"I did not receive any cash from Hong Joonpyo."
Myeong Taekyun, who was indicted and detained on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and was recently released on bail, made this statement as he attended his first trial after being granted bail.
This was a rebuttal to the claim made by Kim Taeyeol, former head of the Future Korea Research Institute, during the third hearing on April 8. Kim Taeyeol stated, "Ahead of the June 2022 National Assembly election for Changwon Uichang in Gyeongnam, Myeong Taekyun received 50 million won in cash from the side of Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, and I, acting on Myeong's instructions, received a 50 million won check. In total, we received 100 million won, which was used for the operation of the research institute and for the election campaign expenses of National Assembly member Kim Youngsun."
On the morning of April 22, Myeong Taekyun appeared at the Changwon District Court Criminal Division 4 (presided over by Chief Judge Kim Intaek) for the fourth hearing on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and answered reporters' questions regarding this claim.
Myeong Taekyun is answering reporters' questions before attending a trial related to violations of the Political Funds Act at Changwon District Court in Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Seryeong
Myeong Taekyun said, "Hong Joonpyo filed lawsuits against me nine times while I was in prison," and added, "He was basically telling me not to come out and to rot in jail, so why would I ever defend Hong Joonpyo?"
He further emphasized, "Kim Taeyeol (the head of the Future Korea Research Institute) received two checks. Those two checks will be revealed soon."
He continued, "Kim used them to pay his personal credit card bills, and then Kang Hyekyung used them for her own expenses. If there is any problem with what I am saying, they can charge me with false accusation."
Regarding Kang Hyekyung's claim that Busan Mayor Park Hyungjoon came to her before the 2021 by-election to ask for help with opinion polls, he said, "I don't even have Mayor Park's phone number, and I've never seen or met him."
He asserted, "The person Kang is referring to is Lee Eonju, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea," and added, "As far as I know, Lee gave money to Kim and conducted opinion polls six or seven times."
He went on to emphasize, "People keep saying the Future Korea Research Institute belongs to me, but if you look at the confiscated PC in Kang's possession, it shows that the Future Korea Research Institute is a partnership between Kim Taeyeol and Kang Hyekyung."
Myeong Taekyun was brought to trial on charges of receiving 80.7 million won in illegal political funds through Kang Hyekyung, who was the accounting manager for former lawmaker Kim Youngsun, in exchange for a candidate recommendation during the National Assembly election process for Uichang-gu, Changwon City, from August 2022 to November 2023.
He also faces charges of conspiring with former lawmaker Kim Youngsun and Kim Taeyeol, former head of the Future Korea Research Institute, to receive 240 million won from then-prospective candidates A (for Goryeong County Governor, Gyeongbuk) and B (for Daegu City Council member) ahead of the June 2022 nationwide local elections, in exchange for party nominations.
Additionally, he was indicted for instructing his brother-in-law to hide his mobile phone, which contained recorded conversations with former President Yoon Sukyeol and his wife regarding party nominations.
He had been standing trial in detention up until the third hearing, but was released on bail by the court to ensure his right to defense, and will now continue the trial without detention.
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