Former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun has completely denied the allegations involving Mrs. Kim Kun-hee’s interference in nominations, stating, “The nomination allegations have nothing to do with me.” On the morning of the 3rd, Kim appeared at the Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office at around 9:38 a.m. on charges of violating the Political Funds Act. He is a key figure in the allegations concerning Mrs. Kim and the “money transaction” involving Myung Tae-kyun.
Before entering the government office, Kim addressed the suspicions, stating, “I learned about the survey cost issues during the last presidential election through news reports,” and “the nomination allegations (in exchange for favors) have nothing to do with me,” fully denying any related allegations.
When asked by reporters about Myung’s role in the June 1, 2022, parliamentary by-election nomination for the People Power Party, he responded, “I only know that Myung helped me to some extent as he is articulate,” and added, “I have never contacted President Yoon Suk-yeol or Mrs. Kim regarding the nominations.”
Regarding whether he knew that Myung had allegedly influenced his nomination while on the phone with Mrs. Kim, Kim stated, “I heard that Mrs. Kim was receptive to Myung’s comments, but I have never directly heard anything related to nominations.”
In response to a question about what he meant by saying he owed a debt to Myung in a recording, Kim stated, “Everyone who helped in the election is someone I am grateful for.”
He also said he had “absolutely not heard” the recently released recorded conversation between Myung and President Yoon, publicized by the Democratic Party of Korea.
Kim claimed, “The recording by (accountant) Kang Hye-kyung is my best defense,” alleging that Kang attempted to extort money from him using their recorded conversations.
Kim is accused of giving over 90 million won across several installments to Myung after being elected in the June 1, 2022, parliamentary by-election for the Changwon-Ui constituency. This is Kim’s second appearance in the prosecutor’s office since he was a reference last June. The prosecution suspects Kim gave the money in exchange for expecting a nomination, as Myung allegedly emphasized his ties with Mrs. Kim.
Previously, Kang appeared as a witness at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s inspection on October 21, alleging that in exchange for “illegal surveys” conducted by Myung for then-candidate Yoon during the presidential election, Kim received a nomination in the 2022 re-elections, with Mrs. Kim allegedly involved in the nomination process.
Kang claimed that the Future Korea Research Institute conducted 81 surveys and that the survey cost of approximately 370 million won was instead compensated through Kim’s nomination. Although Kim is the registered representative of the Future Korea Research Institute, Myung is known to be its actual operator.
The prosecution charges that the exchanges of over 90 million won between Kim and Myung violate the Political Funds Act, reclassifying both as suspects last September.