A local court has issued pretrial detention warrants for two key figures in a high-profile political scandal linked to President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee.

The Changwon District Court issued the warrants early on Friday for Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political consultant, and former ruling People Power Party lawmaker Kim Young-sun, who face charges of violating political funding laws.

In issuing the warrants, the court cited the risk that they could destroy evidence.  

Myung is suspected of receiving some 76 million won, or around 54-thousand U.S. dollars, from the former lawmaker between August 2022 and November 2023 in exchange for his help in getting her nominated for a parliamentary by-election in June 2022. 

He is also accused of using his personal connections with the president and the first lady to influence the nomination process.

The court refused to issue pretrial detention warrants for two other people who sought candidacy in the 2022 by-elections and allegedly handed over some 240 million won to Myung’s polling agency, expecting his support.