February 19, 2025
SEOUL – Two top prospective presidential candidates from the ruling People Power Party have publicly denied any alleged ties to Myung Tae-kyun, a pollster and self-proclaimed political broker, who has emerged once again at the core of a major political controversy following the release of a transcript of his phone conversations with first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, one of the conservative party’s presidential contenders, dismissed local reports Tuesday alleging his ties to Myung Tae-kyun, who has claimed to have met with Oh four times to support his campaign for the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election.
Myung is currently in custody on charges of interfering in the election nomination process for former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun’s candidacy in the 2022 by-election.
Oh denied the allegations in a Facebook post on Tuesday, calling them “exaggerated lies from a fraudster.”
“A swindler’s lies will eventually come at a price,” he titled his Facebook post, writing that he cut off contact with Myung after pointing out problems with Myung’s test opinion poll.
“I have firmly stated several times that I have not made any requests or discussions with him since pointing out the flaws with Myung Tae-kyun’s first test opinion poll and cutting ties with him,” Oh wrote.
Oh further dismissed claims that he, Myung and Oh’s associate Kim Han-jung had met together three times, calling them “blatant lies,” and threatening legal action against both Myung’s legal representatives and the media outlets that published the reports.
Earlier in the day, local media outlets including Kyunghyang Shinmun and Nocut News reported that Myung told prosecutors he had met Oh and the mayor’s close associate multiple times before the 2021 mayoral by-election race while also allegedly interfering in the nomination process for the 2022 lawmaker by-election for former Rep. Kim Young-sun.
According to the reports, Oh allegedly sought Myung’s help in conducting opinion polls to boost his campaign, with Oh’s sponsor, Kim Han-jung, covering the costs. The reports added that prosecutors have obtained bank records showing Kim transferred 33 million won ($22,900) to Myung’s associates in five transactions.
Likewise, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, regarded as another one of the ruling People Power Party’s potential presidential candidates along with Oh, also dismissed speculation that he has ties to Myung.
“I have never associated with nor had any dealings with a political broker like Myung Tae-kyun, who manipulates public opinion,” Hong wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
Both Oh and Hong filed defamation complaints against Myung in December, accusing him of falsely claiming ties with them and damaging their reputations.
These allegations have revived speculation that Myung engaged in political activities, particularly with officials from the ruling People Power Party.
Myung is at the center of controversy after Nam Sang-kwon, one of Myung’s legal representatives, on Monday disclosed records of multiple conversations between Myung and first lady Kim Keon Hee in February last year, in which the first lady allegedly sought Myung’s help to influence the April 10, 2024 general election.
Myung’s attorneys reconstructed the transcripts during their prison visits with him, Nam added. However, he acknowledged that they could not verify whether actual voice recordings of the conversations exist.
The revelation has rekindled suspicions about the first lady’s influence in politics, including allegations that she interfered in the selection of candidates for elections.
Nam said the calls took place between Feb. 16 and 19 last year, roughly two months before the April general election, with Myung and first lady Kim reportedly speaking five to six times during that period.
According to the transcripts, the first lady allegedly asked Myung to help former prosecutor Kim Sang-min secure the nomination for lawmaker candidacy in Uichang-gu in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Kim Sang-min, then a sitting prosecutor, had announced his candidacy in January last year but was later cut from the nomination process.
The transcripts revealed that the first lady had also reached out to Rep. Yoon Han-hong. However, Yoon later issued a statement denying the claim.
These political scandals with Myung at their core have garnered great attention as the investigation has reached a critical stage, with its transfer to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
On Monday, the Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office announced the transfer of the investigation into allegations regarding Myung Tae-kyun’s role in election nominations, which are connected to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee.
This decision was made because the key individuals involved, including Kim, live in Seoul rather than Changwon. To maintain continuity, the specialized investigation team from the Changwon office will move to Seoul to carry on with the probe.