Myeong Tae-gyun, a key figure in the allegations of interference in candidate selection involving President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife, was eventually removed from the courtroom after shouting and claiming that the prosecution manipulated the investigation.
The 4th Criminal Division of the Changwon District Court in Gyeongnam (Chief Judge Kim In-taek) held the third preparatory hearing on the 17th for Myeong, who was indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, along with five others including former National Assembly member Kim Young-sun.
Myeong, former lawmaker Kim, and their legal representatives, as well as the legal representative of Kim Tae-yeol, former head of the Future Korea Research Institute, attended the hearing, but two preliminary candidates for the 2022 local elections were absent.
Myeong Taegyun heading to Changwon District Court for a detention warrant hearing. Photo by Lee Seryeong
At the hearing, Myeong strongly requested the court to accept a recorded video of his testimony given to the prosecution as evidence.
He said, "All the materials are in there," and asked the court to play the video in the courtroom, claiming that the prosecutor in charge of the case manipulated the investigation.
Myeong raised his voice, saying, "Everything reported in the media is fabricated. If you play the video, you can see how the prosecution manipulated the case," and questioned, "How could a prosecutor manipulate it?"
The court warned that the video was unrelated to the case and that if the defense requested to view or copy it, it could be used as favorable evidence, but Myeong continued shouting.
He also told former lawmaker Kim, who was speaking about the case, to "get a grasp of the case details."
Eventually, a court official present in the courtroom confiscated the microphone Myeong was using.
Myeong’s lawyer argued, "The prosecutor said during the investigation that they knew he ultimately did not receive the money," adding, "But since he was detained, they had no choice but to indict him."
In response, Myeong added, "I have recordings of the prosecutor. I brought them," and shouted, "Not even prosecutors during the Japanese colonial era or military regimes acted like this."
He also mentioned Kang Hye-kyung, former accounting officer for former lawmaker Kim, who was additionally indicted as an accomplice in the Political Funds Act violation case, saying, "Kang embezzled and tampered with money related to the Political Funds Act violation," and requested that Kang’s case be consolidated with his own.
He further claimed that the amount related to his Political Funds Act violation charges was too low compared to what the prosecutor reported and that the amount was increased.
The prosecution urged the court, saying, "Myeong often makes statements during the trial that criticize the investigating prosecutor and obscure the essence of the case," and requested restraint as "recently, investigation records and trial-related information involving Myeong Tae-gyun have been leaked to the media."
Myeong questioned, "What has come out related to the investigation records?" and when the prosecutor told him to look at the media, he retorted, "How can I see it when I’m locked up in prison?"
He then said, "It’s only 15 minutes," and repeatedly requested the court to play the recording once during the trial session, promising to remain silent afterward.
He shouted at the prosecutor, "This is a sacred place, is it okay to lie?" and told the prosecutor, "You should be locked in solitary confinement for three months," before ultimately being removed from the courtroom.
The court concluded the preparatory hearing and plans to hold the first trial on March 24, where full statements and witness examinations will begin in earnest.
Future trial dates have been tentatively set for March 31, April 8, and April 22.
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