Kim Keon-hee, the First Lady, is at the center of a controversy involving key figure Myung Tae-kyun, whose repeated revelations have caused a stir within the ruling party.
Myung disclosed KakaoTalk messages exchanged with Kim on Facebook yesterday (15th). In the messages, Kim referred to Myung as ‘our brother who speaks recklessly,’ asking for forgiveness. The presidential office clarified, explaining that the ‘brother’ in question was Kim’s real brother, not President Yoon Suk-yeol, and that it was purely a private conversation.
Afterwards, Myung told a journalist that he has around 2,000 such KakaoTalk conversations involving the First Lady and the President. As the opposition links Myung to the First Lady’s alleged intervention in state affairs, there is growing concern within the ruling party, especially after Myung announced plans to release more conversations involving the presidential couple.
Despite the presidential office’s clarification about the term ‘brother,’ the controversy fueled by the disclosed messages is intensifying. Senior Representative Kim Jong-hyuk, speaking on MBC Radio today (16th), expressed concern that even if the clarification about the ‘brother’ is accurate, there’s an unease about the situation and that trust would be completely shattered if proven false.
Vice Strategy and Planning Director Shin Ji-ho, speaking on Channel A’s YouTube, acknowledged the likelihood that the ‘brother’ was indeed her real brother. However, he argued that whether the ‘brother’ was the President or her real brother isn’t the main issue but questioned the involvement of her brother and his interactions with Myung.
Yoon’s loyal follower, Representative Kang Myung-ku, said on SBS Radio that who the ‘brother’ is isn’t the main point and he trusts the explanation from the presidential office. Jang Ye-chan, a former youth chief of staff, responded to a CBS Radio query about whether he had ever heard the First Lady refer to President Yoon as ‘brother,’ stating that he had not encountered such a reference.
In related news, a media report revealed audio recordings suggesting Myung manipulated opinion polls to favor then-presidential candidate Yoon during the primary elections. The recordings reportedly have Myung instructing Kang Hye-kyung, a pollster, to edge Yoon ahead of Hong Joon-pyo, the current mayor of Daegu.
The People Power Party recognizes the allegations against Myung as issues for the presidential office to address but aims to quickly clarify how Myung accessed the party membership list during the primaries.
While the camps of the four primary candidates did not officially contract with Myung’s polling firm, Future Korea Research Institute, for polling, there remains the possibility of unofficial polls.
Secretary-General Seo Beom-su mentioned to reporters at the National Assembly today that Myung had been confirmed as a general party member and announced plans to establish an internal audit committee to investigate and refer the case to law enforcement if necessary.
Additionally, the People Power Party is considering pursuing a ‘Myung Tae-kyun Prevention Act’ to prevent similar poll manipulations. Party leadership reportedly reached a consensus on this initiative during a pre-meeting of the Supreme Council on the 14th.
[Photo Source: Yonhap News]