Prosecutors raid ruling party headquarters over influence-peddling scandal

Prosecutors leave the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Nov. 27. Yonhap

Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as part of an investigation into an influence-peddling scandal linked to the parliamentary by-elections in 2022.

The prosecutors searched the planning and organization department at the headquarters to secure material related to the party's nomination of candidates for the 2022 elections, according to legal sources. In the afternoon, they plan to search a separate office used by the department inside the National Assembly compound.

The scandal centers on allegations Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed power broker, took approximately 76 million won ($54,371) from former PPP Rep. Kim Young-sun in exchange for his help in getting her nominated for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections.

The case has made headlines amid allegations President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee were involved in the nomination process.

A former accountant for the former lawmaker testified during a parliamentary audit in September that Myung won Kim Young-sun's nomination in exchange for conducting public opinion polls favorable to Yoon ahead of the 2022 presidential election.

The main opposition Democratic Party later released a recording of a phone call in which Yoon suggested to Myung that he had recommended Kim Young-sun to the PPP's nomination committee. The phone call allegedly took place on May 9, 2022, the day before Kim was formally nominated and Yoon took office as president. (Yonhap)