"Special Counsel calls upon real estate tycoon, Myung Tae-kyun, due to suspicions of interference in elections"
Political Broker Myung Tae-kyun Under Scrutiny for Alleged Election Meddling and Bribery
Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker in South Korea, has found himself at the centre of a controversial investigation involving allegations of election meddling, bribery, and financial misconduct.
According to reports, Myung is accused of conducting 81 illegal opinion polls during the 2022 presidential election, manipulating the results to favour former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. The polls were allegedly designed to inflate support for Yoon and create the illusion of a close race against his opponent, strategically influencing voters [1][2].
Myung is said to have offered these polls freely to Yoon and Kim before the election, with the claim that Kim subsequently asked him to support efforts to secure political nominations for certain candidates, such as former People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Kim Young-sun in a parliamentary by-election. In return, Myung alleges that he was promised a position as a minister or head of a state-owned company [1][2].
The special counsel is currently questioning Myung as a suspect, focusing on his ties with Kim Keon Hee and Yoon Suk Yeol, and suspected quid pro quo involving political nominations and poll manipulation. The investigation also involves raids on the homes and offices of other political figures connected to the PPP nomination process, like Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun and Rep. Lee Jun-seok [1][2].
Meanwhile, former first lady Kim Keon Hee is under investigation for her ties to IMS Mobility, a company that was allegedly involved in the election-meddling scheme. A travel ban has been imposed on Kim, preventing her from leaving the country [2].
Myung Tae-kyun, however, has not been discharged from the hospital and there is no mention of a travel ban being imposed on him. Furthermore, there are allegations of financial misconduct against both Myung and Kim Keon Hee, but no information is available about any connections between them or any connections to the events mentioned regarding Kim Keon Hee [1][2].
Lastly, there is no mention of a process to revoke Myung Tae-kyun's professional certifications. The investigation into these allegations continues, shedding light on the complex web of political connections and potential wrongdoing in South Korea.
References:
[1] The Korea Herald
[2] The Chosun Ilbo
[3] Yonhap News Agency
[4] The Hankyoreh
- The ongoing investigation into political broker Myung Tae-kyun has brought the issue of policy-and-legislation into focus, as allegations of election meddling, bribery, and financial misconduct are raising questions about the laws and regulations governing political campaigns in South Korea.
- As the investigation into Myung Tae-kyun's alleged manipulation of opinion polls during the 2022 presidential election continues, the topic of general-news has become increasingly dominated by the potential influence that political brokers may have on election outcomes, and the need for tighter regulation in this area.
- The investigation into Myung Tae-kyun's alleged wrongdoing has also brought the business sector into the spotlight, as ties between politicians and companies like IMS Mobility are being scrutinized for potential conflicts of interest and violations of election laws.
