Former lawmaker Kim Young-sun attended the special prosecutor's investigation regarding the 'allegations of interference in the nomination' on the 4th.
Kim attended the special prosecutor's investigation as a suspect around 9 a.m. that day. In front of the special prosecutor, Kim held a press conference and said, "The prosecution is unfairly separating ongoing cases, seriously infringing upon my right to defense," and noted, "This is a result of yielding to the political pressure from the Democratic Party, which designated 강혜경 as an 'informant.'"
Kim urged the judiciary and the special prosecutor to "not conceal the minutes of the nomination meeting of the People Power Party's nomination screening committee during the June 2022 by-election" and demanded, "The Changwon District Prosecutors' Office should submit them to the court and disclose them to the parties involved in the case." She also stated, "Please conduct a swift investigation into the accusations of embezzlement and fraud against the accounting officer 강혜경 and impose severe penalties."
The allegations of interference in the nomination center around the claim that during the last presidential election, former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife received public opinion surveys for free from political broker Myung Tae-kyun, and that in return, Kim was helped to receive a nomination in the 2022 by-election.
Previously released transcripts included a conversation where former President Yoon, on May 9, 2022, the day before the announcement of the People Power Party's by-election nominations, told Myung, "I worked hard for Kim Young-sun since the primaries, so please take care of her. There are many complaints from the party," and added, "I'll talk to Sang-hyun (Representative Yoon Sang-hyun) again, since he is the nomination committee chairman."
The special prosecutor notified Kim to appear on one of the days between the 23rd and 24th of last month, but it did not happen. At that time, Kim refused to attend citing her court schedule as the reason.
Meanwhile, that day, attorney Kim So-yeon also arrived at the special prosecutor's office to submit a complaint against five people, including Myung, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform Party, and Cheon Ha-ram, a lawmaker from the Reform Party. Kim So-yeon said, "Last Thursday (31st), I submitted my resignation while I was working as Myung Tae-kyun's attorney."
Attorney Kim So-yeon stated, "I am willing to provide all the evidence I have regarding the allegations against Myung and Representative Lee Jun-seok to the special prosecutor," and urged, "Please clarify whether the interference in the nomination was conducted by former President Yoon and Kim or by this representative."