Former Lawmaker Kim Young-sun Summoned in Election Interference Investigation

The special investigation team led by Min Jung-ki, probing allegations related to Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, has officially summoned former lawmaker Kim Young-sun of the People Power Party regarding the 'Myung Tae-kyun election interference allegations.' According to legal sources on July 16, the special prosecutor's office has notified Kim of her summons and is currently coordinating a schedule for her appearance. However, Kim has indicated that she may not be able to attend immediately due to ongoing legal proceedings related to violations of political funding laws at the Changwon District Court. She was indicted last November for allegedly soliciting 80.7 million won from Myung in exchange for election support.

Previously, on July 8, the special investigation team conducted searches at the homes of People Power Party members, including lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun and former chief prosecutor Kim Sang-min, as part of the investigation into the alleged election interference involving the couple during the 2022 by-elections and the April 10 general elections.

The couple is accused of facilitating Kim Young-sun's candidacy in the by-elections in exchange for receiving free opinion polls from Myung, a so-called 'political broker,' during the presidential election campaign. It is reported that Myung conducted illegal opinion polls on 81 occasions for them.

In a previously released phone call recording, former President Yoon was heard discussing Kim Young-sun's candidacy with Myung on May 9, 2022, the day before the announcement of the People Power Party's by-election nominations. Yoon stated, "I have been working hard for Kim Young-sun since the primaries, so please help her out, but there are a lot of complaints from the party. I will talk to Sang-hyun (Yoon) again since he is the head of the nomination committee."

Additionally, the special prosecutor's office is set to summon Kang Hye-kyung, the former vice president of the Future Korea Research Institute, who first revealed the election interference allegations. Kang claims that with the help of former President Yoon, Kim Young-sun was able to secure her candidacy in Changwon, Gyeongnam, during the June 2022 by-elections, and that Myung provided 81 opinion poll results to Yoon's camp for free ahead of the presidential election held in March of that year.