Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Young-sun, and Kim Sang-min raided across the board... Kim Gun-hee’s special prosecutor's blade targeting Kim Tae-hyo as well.

Introduction: The Prosecutor's Blade Aimed at the Pinnacle of Power

On July 8, 2025, the special investigation team led by Min Jung-ki conducted simultaneous searches targeting key figures from both current and former leadership of the People Power Party. This search is interpreted not merely as a collection of information, but as the first forced investigation aimed at thoroughly uncovering allegations of power abuse by the previous administration. The subjects of the investigation are associated with complex and serious criminal allegations, including bribery related to candidate nominations, election interference, and the acceptance of illicit funds. Notably, the case centers around the suspicion that the power elite, led by Kim Geon-hee, systematically intervened in elections to install a specific individual as a member of the National Assembly. The search targets included People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, former lawmaker Kim Young-sun, former prosecutor Kim Sang-min, and the residences and offices of about ten individuals related to them. This case is not simply about internal disputes over candidate nominations within the party or exaggerated statements by political brokers it directly involves allegations of organized intervention in nominations at the level of the administration and the exertion of improper influence, suggesting that the political and judicial repercussions are likely to be substantial.

Main body ①: Development of allegations regarding nomination trading

The allegations of intervention in the nomination process are a long-term issue that began in 2022, illustrating how the internal nomination structure of the People Power Party has been distorted due to external influences and opaque dealings. Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, who was the chairman of the party's nomination management committee at the time, oversaw the entire nomination process and has been recorded as having received requests to nominate specific individuals for certain electoral districts during communications with political broker Myung Tae-gyun. These recordings even mention the name of Yoon Seok-youl, suggesting that the president and first lady were indeed involved in the nomination process. Former Representative Kim Young-sun sought to receive a nomination in the Changwon district of Gyeongnam but reportedly agreed to move her nomination to the Gimhae-gap district after coordinating with Kim Geon-hee through Myung Tae-gyun. This can be viewed not merely as an internal party nomination negotiation but as a political maneuver involving 'exchanges,' whereby specific individuals are nominated while displacing other candidates to different districts. It is known that Kim Geon-hee directly requested intervention from Myung Tae-gyun through Telegram messages and voice calls during this nomination adjustment process. Parts of these calls and messages have been secured by the special investigation team as forensic evidence, forming a core basis for the investigation as digital evidence.

Main topic ②: The injury of former Prosecutor Kim Sang-min and the suspicion of 'favoritism in nominations'

Former prosecutor Kim Sang-min served as a prosecutor in the Special Investigations Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and was a key figure in leading the investigation into former Minister of Justice Jo Kuk. At that time, he was regarded as a core prosecutor aligned with Yoon Seok-youl, and following the launch of the Yoon Seok-youl administration, he was classified as a pro-government prosecutor. With the 2024 general elections approaching, he applied for candidacy as a preliminary candidate for the People Power Party in the Changwon district of Gyeongnam. This district was also where former legislator Kim Young-sun was preparing to run, and strong external interference allegations were raised during the process in which Kim Sang-min was designated as the candidate. Political broker Myung Tae-kyun testified during the special investigations that "Kim Geon-hee repeatedly said that Kim Sang-min must be made a member of the National Assembly." He claimed that beyond mere recommendations, he also heard that Kim Sang-min would be guaranteed a ministerial position or a leadership role in a public enterprise following the elections. Communications between Kim Geon-hee and Myung Tae-kyun were restored through digital forensic materials such as Telegram messages and phone records, which reportedly included strategies for the election, media management, and requests for organizing local groups for Kim Sang-min. The special investigations conducted search and seizures at Kim Sang-min's residence and mobile devices based on these circumstances. Such allegations of favoritism in candidate selection seriously undermine the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of elections by suggesting that appointments to public positions are made according to loyalty to prosecutorial power.

Main point ③: Expanding the scope of the investigation up to former First Deputy Kim Tae-hyo

The Minjungi Special Investigation Team has issued a summons for Kim Tae-hyo, former first deputy of the National Security Office, in connection with the investigation into the Marine Corps death event, in addition to the probe into the election interference. Kim Tae-hyo is a key figure in the president's diplomatic and security line and is at the center of suspicion regarding the alleged military investigation intervention and cover-up orders during the incident of the death of a Marine Corps sergeant. The Special Investigation Team has demanded Kim Tae-hyo's appearance by July 11, 2025, indicating that the investigation is not limited to the election interference issue but is expanding to encompass the core of power within the regime. While the investigations into election irregularities and the Marine Corps death incident each began as separate matters, they inevitably have connections as incidents of power abuse occurring within the same regime structure. Thus, the special investigation has transitioned into an all-encompassing power investigation that includes legislative, judicial, and administrative fields, evolving into a structure that could expand beyond simple violations of election laws to allegations of constitutional order destruction and national disgrace.

Reactions and Issues: The People's Power Party's Opposition and the Special Prosecutor's Speedy Actions

The People Power Party immediately retaliated against the special prosecutor's search and seizure by framing it as "political revenge." The party leadership has repeatedly stated that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is conducting retaliatory investigations with the aim of annihilating the opposition. In particular, lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun and former lawmaker Kim Yong-sun are completely denying their respective allegations, while the former prosecutor Kim Sang-min's side claims it is "political smear." On the other hand, the special prosecutor's office is maintaining that "this investigation is a constitutional duty to clarify substantive allegations that have been raised for a long time." The special prosecutor's team is expanding its extensive investigation, starting with securing digital evidence, summoning witnesses, tracking accounts, and analyzing communication records, and is accelerating the investigation. Notably, the content of the calls between Kim Gun-hee and Myung Tae-gyun, as well as other external evidence, is being pointed out as key to clarifying the truth, and if this information is submitted in court, the direction of the case is likely to reach a turning point.

Conclusion: The power called 'nomination' at the intersection of the prosecution and the regime

Nominations may seem like merely the candidate selection process within a political party, but in reality, they are a structural issue that penetrates the essence of power distribution. If structural interventions and corrupt means were mobilized to elect a specific individual, this goes beyond a simple political scandal and connects to the privatization of power. This special prosecutor's investigation is not merely an attempt to uncover the mistakes of past administrations. It is a process of identifying who wielded actual influence within a power structure tangled with prosecutors, the Blue House, ruling party politicians, and political brokers. Particularly, the degree of Kim Kun-hee's actual involvement is the most crucial turning point in the investigation, and whether she will be summoned in the future and the court's ruling will become a matter of national interest. This case does not simply concern the fairness of elections. It tests the fundamental framework of state governance, including the criteria for public office appointments, the political neutrality of the prosecution, and the scope of the president's spouse's authority. Future investigations will set a new benchmark for the transparency of South Korea's power structure and the boundaries of political ethics.