Election Scandal Heats Up as ‘Golden Phone’ Handed Over in Investigation of Yoon and First Lady

South Korean prosecutors have secured the so-called golden phone, a mobile device used by Myeong Tae Kyun, a central figure in allegations of candidate nomination interference involving President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee during the presidential election.

According to legal sources, on Friday, the Changwon District Prosecutors” Office Special Investigation Team (led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Ji Hyeong) obtained three mobile phones previously used by Myeong and a USB drive voluntarily handed over by one of his associates the previous day.

One of the three mobile phones is called the “golden phone,” which Myeong reportedly used from September 2019 through November 2022. This period covers the 2022 presidential and local elections and the by-election that saw former lawmaker Kim Young Sun.

Myeong’s’ attorney handed over the golden phone to prosecutors. Previously, Myeong’s’ lawyer stated, “If Myeong had the phone, there would be no reason to submit it to prosecutors. It could just as easily be presented to the public through the media, submitted to the relevant court, or handed over to the Democratic Party.”

Prosecutors believe the golden phone may contain key evidence, such as recorded phone conversations or screenshots of messages exchanged between Myeong and prominent political figures in the ruling bloc, including Yoon and the First Lady. Forensic analysis of the phone is planned.

It was previously revealed that on September 24, Myeong gave his brother-in-law three mobile phones and a USB flash drive.

Prosecutors later uncovered evidence suggesting that Myeong gave the devices to his brother-in-law to hide them but initially received testimony from both Myeong and the brother-in-law claiming that the phones had been destroyed.

However, further investigations found that Myeong had used the golden phone in attempts to lobby for his release. Prosecutors suspect Myeong used his brother-in-law to conceal the phone and have added charges of evidence concealment to his indictment under the Political Funds Act.

Prosecutors had already indicted Myeong for allegedly engaging in money transactions for nominations, violating the Political Funds Act. They are investigating additional allegations, including interference in candidate nominations by Yoon and his wife, manipulation of presidential election opinion polls, and intervention in selecting the Changwon National Industrial Complex.

Prosecutors are particularly interested in the claim that Myeong provided Yoon with opinion poll results at no cost and secured the nomination of Kim Young Sun, a former People Power Party lawmaker. This is central to the allegations of candidate nomination interference involving Yoon and the First Lady.

With the golden phone, considered a critical piece of evidence in Myeong’s alleged activities, now in their possession, prosecutors are closely examining whether the investigation will extend to Yoon and his wife.