Search and Seizure at Mayor Oh Se-hoon's Office
Prosecution Expands Investigation into Myung-Related Allegations
The prosecution summoned Cheon Haram, acting leader and floor leader of the Reform New Party, in connection with the investigation into allegations of election interference and public opinion manipulation involving Myung Taekyun, a 'political broker' linked to President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife.
On the 3rd of last month, Cheon Haram, Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Reform New Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's special investigation team for the 'Myung Taekyun allegations' (led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Ji-hyung) announced on the 29th that they are currently questioning Acting Leader Cheon as a witness. They are expected to verify the contents discussed during the so-called 'Chilbulsa meeting' involving former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun, Myung, Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok, and Cheon.
In February of last year, former lawmaker Kim met with Myung, then Reform New Party leader Lee, and Acting Leader Cheon at Chilbulsa Temple in Hadong County, Gyeongnam. It is known that Kim demanded the number one proportional representation nomination in exchange for exposing election interference by showing call records with First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Telegram messages. Subsequently, in March last year, the Reform New Party leadership held a closed-door discussion, but the majority responded negatively.
Regarding this, lawmaker Lee stated, "Compared to what former lawmaker Kim told those around him, the expos? content about First Lady Kim lacks completeness, and all members were negative about former lawmaker Kim's joining the Reform New Party, which is controversial publicly, so it was rejected."
The reason former lawmaker Kim visited the Reform New Party was due to a conflict with First Lady Kim over nominating former prosecutor Kim Sang-min for the Changwon Uichang electoral district in Gyeongnam. According to Myung's claims, First Lady Kim told former lawmaker Kim in February last year to support former prosecutor Kim's election, but former lawmaker Kim was reportedly angry, saying, "How could you do this to me?"
The prosecution has secured records showing that First Lady Kim contacted former lawmaker Kim 11 times.
Additionally, since receiving the case related to Myung at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office on the 17th of last month, the prosecution has been expanding the investigation by summoning related parties. Notably, there is an allegation of illicit payment for public opinion survey costs involving Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. In fact, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of the mayor's office and official residence on the 20th.
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