First Trial After Release on Bail
Testimony of Mr. Myung's Former Driver as Witness
On April 22, so-called "political broker" Myung Taekyun appeared at his first trial following his release on bail and directly refuted Kang Hyekyung's claim that, ahead of the 2021 Busan mayoral by-election, Mayor Park Hyungjun sought him out and requested his help. Myung stated, "I don't even have Mayor Park's phone number, I've never seen him or met him," and added, "What Kang is claiming actually concerns Lee Eonju, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party. I understand that Lee paid Kim Taeyeol and conducted public opinion polls six or seven times."
Myung made these remarks in response to reporters' questions about the presidential election as he appeared at the fourth hearing on charges of violating the Political Funds Act, presided over by Judge Kim Intaek of the Changwon District Court's Criminal Division 4. He further stated, "But I never received any cash from Hong Joonpyo," and explained, "Kim Taeyeol received two checks, but Kim used them to pay his personal credit card bills, and Kang Hyekyung paid out of her own pocket."
Myung also mentioned, "When Representatives Park Beomgye and Han Byungdo visited me (in prison), I told them, 'Eonju, please come visit your brother.'" He asserted, "There are repeated reports that the Future Korea Research Institute belongs to me, but that is not true," and claimed, "If you look at the confiscated PC, it shows that the Future Korea Research Institute is a joint venture between Kim Taeyeol and Kang Hyekyung."
Meanwhile, at the same hearing, the prosecution questioned Kim, a former aide to former lawmaker Kim, who was called as a witness. Kim is known to have driven Myung's car during the 2022 presidential and local elections, traveling with him from Changwon to Seoul, and after former lawmaker Kim was elected in the 2022 by-election, Kim worked as an aide in Kim's office.
During questioning by the prosecution, Kim was asked, "Did you ever visit Acro Vista with Myung and A, a preliminary candidate for Goryeong County chief, during the 2022 local elections?" He replied, "I picked up Myung in Changwon, then picked up A in Goryeong, and then we went together." However, he added, "I don't know whom (Myung's group) met there."
Kim also testified that Representative Lee Junseok suggested to Myung that former lawmaker Kim Youngsun be appointed as ambassador to Paris. In response to the prosecution's question, "Have you ever heard Myung discuss nominations with Representative Lee?" Kim said, "I remember a phone call where (Myung) asked Lee to help Kim Youngsun receive a nomination." When asked, "Have you ever heard Lee suggest to Myung that Kim Youngsun be sent as ambassador to Paris?" he replied, "When we visited Nowon-gu together, I heard them discuss that in the car."
During cross-examination by Myung's legal team, Kim was asked, "Have you ever heard that Kim Youngsun or Myung Taekyun agreed to exchange economic benefits in return for a nomination?" Kim answered, "Yes." As the witness examination ran long, the court recessed and decided to continue the questioning in the afternoon. In the afternoon, cross-examination of Kim by former lawmaker Kim Youngsun's legal team is scheduled to take place.
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