"Most Suspects Reside in Seoul, Acts Also Occurred in Seoul"
Investigation Team Remains, Responsible Office Changes
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office will take charge of the investigation into the allegations of interference in Myung Tae-gyun's nomination. The current investigation team will relocate to Seoul to continue the investigation. This decision reflects the fact that the acts occurred in Seoul and that a significant number of suspects reside in the metropolitan area.
The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office's dedicated investigation team (led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Ji-hyung) announced on the 17th that "(the case related to Mr. Myung) will be transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, but the current investigation team will move and continue the investigation." The Changwon Prosecutors' Office has been investigating allegations of nomination interference involving President Yoon and others, suspicions of manipulation of public opinion poll results by Mr. Myung and others, and allegations of free provision of poll results. Considering that most of the persons involved in the case reside in Seoul and that the incident occurred in Seoul, the investigation team will be maintained as is, but the responsible office will be changed.
On the same day, the prosecution announced interim investigation results, including the additional indictment of Kang Hye-kyung, a staff member of the Future Korea Research Institute, on charges related to receiving illegal political funds from former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun. Former lawmaker Kim was additionally indicted for leaking information in advance about the selection of candidate sites in the Changwon National Industrial Complex and engaging in real estate speculation through his brothers, as well as for receiving illegal political funds under the name of 'legal advisory fees' from local businessman Cho Mo.
Regarding the transferred case, the prosecution secured evidence through raids at 61 locations, including the People Power Party central headquarters, Gyeongnam Provincial Office, Changwon City Hall, and polling agencies. A detailed analysis of the mobile phone voluntarily submitted by Mr. Myung is also underway. The prosecution has conducted summons and investigations of about 100 people, including eight current and former lawmakers such as Lee Jun-seok, the then party leader of the People Power Party and current member of the Reform New Party, former nomination committee chairman Yoon Sang-hyun, former Yeouido Research Institute director Ji Sang-wook, as well as presidential office secretaries and administrative officers during the June 1, 2022, local and by-elections.
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