Myung Tae-kyun, a power broker and key figure in a high-profile scandal involving the president and the first lady, has appeared for questioning as a suspect in a 2022 political funding case. 

Appearing at the Changwon District Prosecutors’ Office along with his attorney around 9:40 a.m., Myung apologized to the public, saying he was embarrassed and ashamed of his indiscreet words and deeds. 

Promising to faithfully cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation, Myung said he has not received a penny in relation to the case. 

Myung is accused of accepting multiple payments between August 2022 and December last year totaling approximately 90 million won, or about 65-thousand U.S. dollars, from former ruling People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun in violation of the Political Funds Act. 

Kim won a parliamentary seat in the Changwon Uichang constituency in a by-election in June 2022, and the prosecution suspects she paid Myung to help her get nominated as the ruling party candidate. 

Myung, a self-styled political consultant, is suspected of using his personal connections with President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee to influence the nomination process.