Allegations have surfaced that First Lady Kim Keon-hee and President Yoon Suk-yeol were involved in selecting candidates for the 2022 June 1st parliamentary by-elections, based on an audio file released by media outlet News Tomato on September 19, 2024.
Key Details from the Audio File
The recordings, which feature a man named Myung Tae-gyun, who reportedly became close to the presidential couple following the 2022 presidential election, suggest that Kim Keon-hee influenced candidate selection. In a May 9, 2022, phone call with an unnamed individual, Myung is heard saying that First Lady Kim and the president discussed Kim Young-seon, a former lawmaker of the People Power Party (PPP). Myung reportedly stated, "The First Lady called the president, and he said, 'I suggested Kim Young-seon.' So, Yoon Sang-hyun’s part is over." At the time, Yoon Sang-hyun was the head of the PPP’s by-election candidate selection committee. According to the report, the person on the call interpreted Myung's words as indicating that Kim Young-seon had been promised candidacy in Changwon Uichang, Gyeongnam by President Yoon and his wife. Indeed, the next day, on May 10, 2022, Kim was nominated as the party's candidate for that seat.
Election Interference Allegations in the 2024 General Election
Another audio file released on the same day indicates further involvement of First Lady Kim in the 2024 general election. On February 18, 2024, during the selection process for candidates, Myung allegedly told the same individual, "Kim Young-seon is being cut off. The First Lady called directly," and instructed them to release an article quickly. That same day, Kim Young-seon announced her candidacy in Gimhae Gap, citing a desire to run in a challenging district. News Tomato suggested that this recording showed Myung had prior knowledge that Kim Young-seon would not be nominated in Changwon Uichang and orchestrated her move to Gimhae Gap.
Reactions to the Allegations
In response to these allegations, Yoon Sang-hyun dismissed the claims as "pure fiction." In a statement, Yoon stated that at the time, there had been no prior decision on candidates, and that there had been no external pressure during the selection process. He also expressed regret over what he called an "unfounded exposé" based on manipulated audio recordings of Myung Tae-gyun’s empty boasting.
Subscribe!! Your likes and comments mean a lot to me and are a great support.
Starting Google Play App Distribution! "Tester Share" for Recruiting 20 Testers for a Closed Test.
Tester Share [테스터쉐어] - Google Play 앱
Tester Share로 Google Play 앱 등록을 단순화하세요.
play.google.com
