DP urges Yoon to explain first lady's alleged interference in April general elections

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Friday stepped up calls for a special counsel probe into allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee following a report that she interfered with the ruling party's candidate nominations ahead of April's general elections.

On Thursday, a local media outlet reported that Kim had sent a Telegram message to then five-term lawmaker Rep. Kim Young-sun telling her to run in a different constituency ahead of the April 10 general elections, sparking controversy over the first lady's inappropriate interference in the elections and party affairs.

"Speculation over the first lady's interference in the general elections is spreading rapidly," DP spokesperson Hwang Jung-a told reporters after the party's supreme council meeting. "President Yoon Suk Yeol, the first lady and the ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon should clarify their positions on this issue."

During the meeting, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae stressed the need to pass a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the first lady's allegations of stock manipulation, as well as her alleged involvement in the general elections.

"The presidential office claims there was no interference in the candidate nomination process as Rep. Kim Young-sun ultimately did not get nominated, but this is similar to saying 'there was no stock manipulation as no profit was made,'" he said.

The ruling party criticized the DP for accusing the first lady based on "totally groundless" allegations, calling it "a typical example of rumor-driven politics."

julesyi@yna.co.kr
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