"Suspected Nomination Intervention." Kim Young-sun appears at the prosecution...Ruling and opposition parties fight over independent counsel law

■ Hosted by: Anchor Sung-kyu Sung-gyu
■ Starring: Lee Jong-geun, current affairs critic, Professor Bae Jong-ho of Seha University

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN Newswide] when quoting.

[Anchor]
Former People's Power lawmaker Kim Young-sun, a key party in the alleged intervention of the People's Power nomination, attended the prosecution today as a suspect and saw him appear a while ago. Former lawmaker Kim completely denied the allegations. The battle between the ruling and opposition parties has been growing since President Yoon's disclosure of phone records. Today, we will talk about politics with current affairs critic Lee Jong-geun and Professor Bae Jong-ho of Seha University. Hello, both of you. Former lawmaker Kim Young-sun attended the prosecution at around 10:30 a.m. today. It is the first time that Kim Gun-hee has been in front of the media since the suspicion of intervening in the nomination of Kim Gun-hee emerged. At the meeting, former lawmaker Kim denied all allegations related to him. Let's listen to his remarks first.

[Kim Young-sun / National Assemblyman: (Have you ever heard the recording of the voice-raising)] What voice recording? (This is "Kim Youngsun, please do it") No. I also found out about the polls during the presidential election in Yoon Suk Yeol from the newspaper. This is embezzlement to me, but Kang Hye-kyung broke the Political Fund Act. So, this Kang Hye-kyung took care of all violations of the Political Fund Act in the history of Korea. That has nothing to do with me. ]

[Anchor]
It was before I entered the prosecution. Former lawmaker Kim said he had never heard of the phone call between Myung Tae-kyun and President Yoon and had not asked for nomination. I came out a little while ago after a 12-hour investigation. I don't think there's much change in the entrance before entering or after coming out, but how did you hear it?

[Lee Jong-geun]
That's right. In the case of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun, the reason why the prosecution called him to defend himself. So, isn't it a violation of the Political Fund Act that the Gyeongnam Election Commission filed a complaint against in December last year? And who I accused of violating the Political Fund Act is Kang Hye-kyung. Because Kang Hye-kyung was the accounting manager of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun. So I filed a complaint and asked the rest of Myung Tae-kyun and Kim Young-sun to investigate. So exactly who was identified as the suspect at that time was Kang Hye-kyung. So Kang Hye-kyung revealed to the media for her protection that all of this was done by Myung Tae-kyun and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun in return for the nomination. So what I said today is to tell the contents of the complaint filed by the Gyeongnam Election Commission at first. Kang Hye-kyung violated the Political Fund Act as her accounting manager. But what former lawmaker Kim Young-sun is avoiding without answering properly is what happened after that. So, other than the charges filed by the Gyeongnam Election Commission in December last year, he has consistently said that he does not know what Myung Tae-kyun has revealed. But will it be acceptable for the people to say they don't know? Because all of this was the price of lawmaker Kim Young-sun's nomination, according to the transcript of Myung Tae-kyun or Kang Hye-kyung. Because I keep explaining like this. Of course, we can hold Kang Hye-kyung accountable for the violation of the Political Fund Act, but can we continue to insist that I don't care what caused this to start? I think it's an unknown.

[Anchor]
So, what was investigated by the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office today is a violation of the Political Fund Act, so the violation of the Political Fund Act is related to the 97 million won that former lawmaker Kim handed over to Myung Tae-kyun, and another is a violation of the Public Official Election Act. This is about nomination. Anyway, what I received from the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office today was a violation of the Political Fund Act. I was in total denial about that. How did you like it?

[Bae Jong Ho]
First of all, I think it's the first time in my memory that a politician has talked about his allegations for more than an hour before the prosecution investigation. Then why are you talking about the charges so much when you're a kind of front lady? I'll probably make a statement to Myung Tae-kyun like this, so I think it's a kind of matching sign that you should make a statement according to this.

[Anchor]
It was a sign for Myung Taekyun.

[Bae Jong Ho]
That's how it works for me. It's very unusual. Because ordinary politicians can express their unfairness. before the prosecution's investigation However, it is hard to see such a detailed denial of the charges. Because the more we talk, the more we make the remarks, the more we make this choice, the more we think it was a message on the premise of matching the words before summoning Myung Tae-kyun. First of all, he made a total denial, but the first is the suspicion of intervening in the nomination. Isn't it that Myung Tae-kyun was elected by talking to First Lady Kim Gun-hee and President Yoon Suk Yeol for nominating former lawmaker Kim Young-sun during the by-election on June 1, 2022? There's a specific evidence about it. One is a text message sent to Mrs. Kim Gun-hee on Kakaotalk. Another is the recording of the phone call between Myung Tae-kyun and President Yoon Suk Yeol, which has been a problem recently. Nevertheless, I completely denied it. And the second problem right now is that Kang Hye-kyung revealed that she has received the cost of the presidential election poll as a nomination fee, but she says she has no idea about this. And thirdly, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun gave the 90 million won in salary that the anchor mentioned earlier to Myung Tae-kyun for two months since he was elected. Isn't it obvious that this was given in return for contributing to the nomination? That's what I'm thinking, but they're saying that this is also borrowed money. So this part needs to be investigated as well. Lastly, I spoke with Myung Tae-kyun and President Yoon Suk Yeol, but I don't know this either. So, he said he doesn't know it at all, but I think this part will be revealed as soon as the prosecution investigates it fairly and properly. Because there are specific evidence, the flow of money. However, the problem is that the chief of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office is prosecutor Chin Yoon. So I wonder if I can investigate properly. The reason why I'm so concerned is that the NEC has already filed a complaint, but there is no investigation and prosecutor. In the case of alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act while staying here for nine months, the statute of limitations expires on October 10, and the internal investigation has already been concluded on that day. That's why it's over. One thing left is a violation of the Political Fund Act, which the Gyeongnam NEC filed a complaint with the prosecution at the end of last year, but it is now being summoned to investigate. So if the prosecution's investigation goes ahead properly, I think that former lawmaker Kim Young-sun's statement today will quickly prove to be a fiction.

[Anchor]
First of all, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun handed over 97 million won to Myung Tae-kyun on charges of violating the Political Fund Act, but former lawmaker Kim Young-sun put all the blame on Kang Hye-kyung in the middle. However, the prosecution summoned and investigated former lawmaker Kim Young-sun as a suspect. Aren't you saying that we're going to call out Myung Taekyun now?

[Lee Jong-geun]
That's right. You're being criticized by the media for not calling out Myung Taekyun, but I actually agree with that. It was filed in December last year, and the Gyeongnam Election Commission clearly asked Kang Hye-kyung to investigate, but all five people, including Myung Tae-kyun, requested an investigation. Then it's very unusual that you never sang it. But according to what I've covered, Myung Tae-kyun seems to have a very hard time finding a lawyer. I'm also asking some lawyers I know to defend themselves. But for most lawyers, the first lawyer, Jung Joon-gil, resigned. So, there is a situation that it is still not possible to find a lawyer properly, but the summons is being urgently carried out, and the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office also investigated today, taking about 12 hours. Then you have to conclude something because you have no choice but to show your will. I think the clock is getting faster.

[Anchor]
The evidence that Myung Taekyun has. I had it all in my father's grave on my cell phone, and he said he would burn it all, but it's actually very important to have evidence. What do you think, the prosecution's investigation into Myung Tae-kyun?

[Bae Jong Ho]
I think I'm going to have evidence. The reason is for self-protection. The reason why I see it that way is that hasn't Myung Tae-kyun already threatened the president of Yoon Suk Yeol? If he is arrested, he must step down or impeach Yoon Suk Yeol's president in a month. What message is this? Let me not be restrained. Don't let me be punished through the prosecution investigation. If I am punished, I will reveal all the evidence I have. First of all, Kim Gun-hee's Kakao Talk message. One message that caused controversy over the immature brother was released, and the recording of the phone call with President Yoon Suk Yeol and Myung Tae-kyun was revealed by the Democratic Party of Korea through the process, even though we don't know who did this. Then, regarding who reported it, some say that the driver did it, and others say that Myung Tae-kyun gave it to them. Anyway, it is controversial, but what is clear is that Myung Tae-kyun has it. The prosecution raided it twice, and it was a tin phone when the first search was conducted. It means there was nothing. And the second time, they raided it, but they said they didn't get much. But as you said, I put it in my father's grave, but he said he put on makeup again. So where is this? In my case now, this is just one of 2,000 about Kim Gun-hee's Kakao Talk messages last time. So I said there were about 2,000. So I think there will be such things and there will be phone recordings. If the cell phone containing it is revealed, I think this will be the smoking gun that will completely shake the political situation.

[Anchor]
According to some reports, I gave it to my brother-in-law, but he threw it away again. I think it's a big problem for the prosecution to secure evidence anyway because it came out in this way. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea also released additional transcripts of the call between Myung Tae-kyun and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun. It was recorded in June 2022, after President Yoon took office, so let's listen to it.

[Myeong Tae Gyun (mid-June 2022): Don't you have to get close to Kim Gun Hee to win the 6th term? You have to do what you're told. Kim Gun-hee is in power. Why don't you do what you're told to do? ]

[Anchor]
This was the voice that Myung yelled at former lawmaker Kim, and it was a bit embarrassing to hear. The time is mid-June 2022. This is after the by-elections, right? To win the sixth term, she needs to get close to First Lady Kim Gun-hee. Why aren't you doing what you're told to do? What kind of situation is this?

[Lee Jong-geun]
Well, it's very hard to guess something just from that transcript... So I think I have to open up my imagination. Because first of all, we succeeded, no matter who gave us the nomination, we were already elected, after June, right after. But when I'm told to do what I'm told to do, he yells at me. But if you look at the contents, not this part, but the next part, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun asks Myung Tae-kyun for something. So, the reason why I heard that you made that request is because Myung Tae-kyun is going to yell at me. No, then should I go to Seoul and run a media company? They yell at me like, "Do you want that?" So these are two things. Do as I wish. But why are you asking me for something other than my meaning? There's a battle going on with each other. So, Rep. Kim Young-sun also hurriedly evolves that, saying that I don't mean that. So the reason why I'm telling you this is that I can't conclude by dropping it as a whole. But if this is the only thing that the Democratic Party will hear. You can only live if you stick to First Lady Kim Gun-hee, and you can win the sixth term. I'm sure he'll highlight that, but honestly, what he's saying is all he's ever said... Considering that he keeps showing people the contents of his cell phone and bluffing, "I'm this kind of person. I'm the person who talked to First Lady Kim Gun-hee on the phone like this and President Yoon Suk Yeol like this," will this also be meaningful? For example, if you say you want to be 6th term, it's possible in May 2024 in two years. It's possible even if it's April. But immediately after being elected, they urge you to do something two years in advance of such a six-term election that has two years left? I don't think it's a remark that can make any charges so clearly.

[Bae Jong Ho]
Regarding this, Hankyoreh just reported exclusively about this. This is what Kang Hye-kyung reported. What Myung Tae-kyun and former lawmaker Kim Young-sun argued about was that former lawmaker Kim Young-sun has a Seoul branch at the Future Korea Research Institute. I guess he kept insisting to Myung Tae-kyun that he should use this as an official research institute to receive orders from media companies and operate it like that. I think he may have told the party or Kim Gun-hee through public opinion. But now, as shown in the contents, Myung Tae-kyun said, "No, this is what those in power tell you to do. What that is is is that as a non-elective research institute, specifically, as a non-elective research institute such as Yeouido Research Institute, it should mainly conduct public opinion polls and continue to play the role shown in the primary process before the presidential election. However, since they are in different positions, they should be completely angry and do what they are told. Who is in power, who is in power, and who is in power, and shouted, "Isn't it Mrs. Kim Gun-hee?" But what surprised me here was that for the first time, I was surprised to see Mrs. Kim Gun-hee and President Yoon Suk Yeol completely excluding names as if they were calling something from a neighborhood. The second is a five-term lawmaker at the time. However, they yell at the five-term lawmaker and yell at him like this. If you look at who's the boss, it's obvious that Myung Tae-kyun is the boss, then Myung Tae-kyun is behind the boss. It is clear that it is Mrs. Kim Gun-hee, so I think this is a recording that ignites the ongoing suspicions of Mrs. Kim Gun-hee and Myung Tae-kyun, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Myung Tae-kyun.

[Anchor]
And last week, I came out of the president's office during the parliamentary audit of the National Assembly's steering committee. Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok came out and said that there was no problem politically, legally, or common sense regarding the recording. There were a lot of people who didn't understand this well, and the panelists said that a lot. It was the same last Friday. How did you like it?

[Jong-geun Lee]
I'll solve three things and tell you. There doesn't seem to be a problem legally. I've asked the legal profession a lot and covered it. Of course, there's still some more controversy, but this is the president now. If this can be a serious reason for the president-elect's actions, which are illegal or unconstitutional in relation to his duties, there is no legal problem, probably because Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk can't prosecute the incumbent president with that in mind, and only the impeachment is necessary for the real prosecution, which is not so unconstitutional or gravely illegal in law. It's May 9th because it was when he was elected. I think that's what I said. However, from a common sense point of view, no matter how much the elected person is not a public servant, then the question of what kind of nomination he can intervene in, for example, would be a different matter. Of course, when Cho Seung-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea inquired with the NEC and asked if he could go to the election office of a candidate for the head of a local government as an elected person, the NEC gave an authoritative interpretation. The president-elect's status is different from that of the president, so it does not necessarily guarantee neutrality like the president, so it cannot be said what to go, but it does not seem appropriate. I've done a voter interpretation with clues like this.

[Bae Jong Ho]
If I talk about a different perspective, there must be difficulties in the presidential office and the chief of staff. Nevertheless, to play a role, you have to do it right to take the lead. As a result, the presidential office's explanations have all been false. As a result of the controversy over lies, President Yoon Suk Yeol's credibility continues to decline. I'm really sad about this. Chief of Staff Chung Jin-seok went to the National Assembly and said there was no problem legally, politically, and common sense. But it's becoming a huge political problem. But if there is no political problem, which people would accept this? Second, there is no common sense problem? There's a problem in common sense. President Yoon Suk Yeol said, "I ran hard during the election, so please nominate Kim Young-sun," but he has never been briefed by the commission or given an order. This is an explanation that doesn't fit common sense at all. Then, finally, there is a view in the legal profession that there is no legal responsibility for the elected status, as you said, but there is also a view in the legal profession that there is no legal responsibility. It's divided. Because in the case of the president-elect, the presidential term has not yet begun, but he nevertheless has legal authority as the president-elect. Who is that? You can nominate a member of the State Council. And I also have the power to appoint the transition chairman, vice chairman, and transition members. And more importantly, the first day of the presidential term is the day the nomination was announced correctly. So you have to see this as a flow. So there is also a view that you should take legal responsibility. So, I would like to say that the investigation should go into this part, whether there is a problem with the legal issue or not.

[Anchor]
The Democratic Party of Korea held an outdoor rally yesterday to denounce Kim Gun-hee, in the Seoul Station area. The ruling party criticized Lee Jae-myung as a bulletproof rally, but let's listen to the positions of both parties.

[Choo Kyung-ho / People's Power Floor Leader: (Representational Lee Jae-myung) has sophistry that the government and the ruling party have destroyed democracy. It's not something that a person who has four previous convictions and is facing four trials on 11 charges in seven cases should say. ]

[Park Chan-dae / Minjoo Party floor leader: We are thinking of starting a sit-in in the National Assembly. There are demands for constitutional amendment and in fact, there are many demands related to impeachment, but we will do everything we can to implement the Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Act.... ]

[Anchor]
First of all, the power of the people criticized the opposition party's outdoor rally yesterday as a bulletproof rally to save representative Lee Jae-myung, but in fact, the first trial of representative Lee Jae-myung is just around the corner.

[Lee Jong-geun]
This demonstration is very much a disagreement within the party or a voice. When we talk about the November crisis in the media, CEO Lee Jae-myung is sentenced twice. Violation of sentencing law on November 15th, perjury teacher on November 25th. Also, on November 14, there will be a sentence related to Kim Hye-kyung's corporate card. As a result, even if it is this first trial, if the guilty comes out consecutively. Moreover, in the face of the party's crisis that the Democratic Party of Korea, which received election subsidies, as well as deprivation of election rights due to violation of the election law, could cough up 43.4 billion won, and there could be screams or non-mainstream voices. However, if all 170 people attend the demonstration throughout November and the entire party's association is ordered to mobilize, there can be no disagreement. Why? One team. We have to demand an independent counsel now and we have to clearly protest against the government, but do we speak out differently? It's this kind of atmosphere. The first one is why it's BTS' voice. The biggest purpose is to offset the voice against representative Lee Jae-myung with a single voice. That's why if this continues, will it be sustainable? I think that if you continue to operate the power every week to form a single team to cover up the guilt when you continue to be guilty in the first trial, you may end up with more fatigue and more differences.

[Anchor]
Professor.

[Bae Jong Ho]
But isn't there two first trial trials of CEO Lee Jae-myung? the Public Official Election Act and perjury teachers One is on the 15th and the other is on the 25th, and you don't know if this will lead to guilt or innocence. But the passport says it on the premise of guilt. But what happens if you are found innocent? Then the passport, the president of Yoon Suk Yeol, is more difficult. The opposition's outdoor rallies are gaining more momentum. And the reason for existence is to collect and reflect the opinions of the people. However, more than 60% of the people say that Kim Gun-hee should do it in relation to the independent counsel law. Then, of course, the opposition party should reflect these people's opinions. If they don't do this, the opposition will have to shut down. People say that this is a Lee Jae-myung Bangtan rally. What I can't agree with is that if we hold a rally like this, if there is a possibility of Lee Jae-myung's guilt, will it be turned into innocence? This is a complete disregard for the independence of the judiciary. I'm denying the rule of law. So, the suspicion of corruption between President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Gun-hee can be investigated as suspected, and representative Lee Jae-myung's trial can proceed according to representative Lee Jae-myung's trial. However, in the power of the people, the bulletproof rally can only be interpreted as a kind of water ghosting operation to water down the suspicion of corruption between Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Gun-hee, which are currently concentrated in the corner.

[Anchor]
Both the ruling and opposition parties said that the other party is working with different intentions, and it seems that they are actually doing so. But I couldn't help but talk about this last week, so I didn't have much time. After the presidential record came out last week, there are talks that representative Han Dong-hoon will remain silent, and as early as tomorrow, he will announce his position at the top tomorrow. I'm also curious about what content will be included here.

[Lee Jong-geun]
First of all, I kept silent for four days, but I think I made a request to the president's office behind the scenes. Before the party demands something, the presidential office is almost at the end. after the release of the recording So, rather than making new demands officially now, the presidential office should come forward and announce it, whether it is a personnel reshuffle or a matter related to First Lady Kim Gun-hee. It's being interpreted as giving that time.

[Anchor]
Then you made three demands last time.

[Lee Jong-geun]
Including everything. If you accept it when you have already made a public request but don't accept it, will the public's public sentiment fade again? That's not true. It can be interpreted that the presidential office gave the time to come forward more intensely than that. If the answer is given by tomorrow, the presidential office will likely change, for example, but if the answer is not given, the presidential office should solve the problem all at once because explanations continue to give rise to explanations and lies seem to give birth to lies. We need to tell the truth.Shouldn't there be a strong demand for a clearer explanation, whether on the issue of Myung Tae-kyun or on another matter related to Kim Gun-hee?

[Anchor]
That's what you expect. What do you think of the professor?

[Bae Jong Ho]
In the end, I have to go the way the representative Han Dong-hoon lives, the way the president of Yoon Suk Yeol lives, and the way the people want to live. Therefore, CEO Han Dong-hoon also says that the message that the people want should be thrown straightforwardly without adding or subtracting. If you look at CEO Han Dong-hoon so far, there has been some differentiation for differentiation. As a result, it was a little different from the will of the people. Of course, you may say that you have differentiated yourself to this extent, but from the public's point of view, it is very poor. So it's really a desperate crisis right now. It's already 20% down, and it's down to 17% in Embrain Public. Since the recordings of the phone calls between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Myung Tae-kyun are not accurately reflected, I think it will fall to 15% if this condition continues in the future. Then, state administration will not work normally. Therefore, Han Dong-hoon, the representative of the party, said, "If we want to release a message tomorrow, what is it that the people want? If you look at it broadly, it's two things. First, please clear up the problem of Mrs. Kim Gun-hee. And clear up the suspicions related to you. So admit it and apologize. This is one. Second, we need to completely overhaul the state administration.
Specifically, the secretary's office has also reorganized its personnel, and Kim Gun-hee has reorganized her secret line, and the State Council member has also reorganized her personnel. And in relation to reform, one-way state administration should not be conducted, and the opposition party should be recognized as a political partner. In that sense, representative Lee Jae-myung and I say that it is a really difficult situation that is dangerous and difficult enough to pass the situation only when we throw a card to shorten the term of office if we can hold a 1:1 meeting within a short period of time.

[Anchor]
A lot of people are predicting whether it'll come out tomorrow or not.In a situation where Ma is likely not to come out, CEO Han Dong-hoon once demanded that he should come out. However, when it became known that the presidential office rejected it, the presidential office was playing the media like this a day before. Are you making an image of no communication? Since he expressed his dissatisfaction like this, we will have to wait and see what kind of presidential office CEO Han Dong-hoon will demand tomorrow.

[Bae Jong Ho]
There is no differentiation for differentiation.

[Anchor]
Let's stop here. It was with Lee Jong-geun, a current affairs critic, and Bae Jong-ho, a professor at Seha University. Thank you.