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| ▲ This composite photo shows Kim Young-sun (R), a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party, and Myung Tae-gyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, appearing for a court hearing in Changwon, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Jan. 5, 2026. (Yonhap) |
court-political scandal
Court partially acquits 'power broker' in cash-for-nominations scandal
CHANGWON, South Korea, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- A court on Thursday acquitted a self-proclaimed political power broker and a former lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party on charges of violating the Political Funds Act for allegedly exchanging cash for political nominations.
The Changwon District Court, however, found the power broker, Myung Tae-kyun, guilty of soliciting concealment of evidence in connection with the case, sentencing him to six months in prison, suspended for one year.
Prosecutors earlier charged the former lawmaker, Kim Young-sun, with handing Myung 80.7 million won (US$55,000) between August 2022 and November 2023 via an accounting manager, alleging it was given in exchange for Kim's nomination for the 2022 parliamentary by-election.
The court, however, ruled the money was unrelated to the nomination, recognizing Myung's argument that he was simply paid as a general manager of the former lawmaker's constituency office.
While it acknowledged that Myung may have influenced her eventual nomination, citing a request he made to then President Yoon Suk Yeol, it noted other factors that likely led to the decision, such as a committee that deliberated on it.
It said there was no evidence to suggest that promises were made between Myung and Kim in exchange for the nomination.
The court also acquitted the two of receiving political funds, along with a former research center chief, from two preliminary candidates of a county mayorship and a Daegu city councillorship, respectively, ahead of the 2022 regional elections, citing a promissory note.
Meanwhile, the court found Myung guilty of ordering his brother-in-law to conceal three mobile phones and a USB when investigators were looking into his case.
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