SEOUL, South Korea — On Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea firmly rejected allegations of any wrongdoing amid a growing scandal that involves him and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. This controversy has significantly impacted his approval ratings and provided his political adversaries with material for attacks.
The backlash arrives at a time when South Korea is navigating critical foreign policy challenges, including Donald Trump’s recent election as the next president of the United States and North Korea’s purported involvement in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The heart of the scandal encompasses claims that Yoon and his wife improperly influenced the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to select a particular candidate for a parliamentary by-election back in 2022. This alleged request stemmed from Myung Tae-kyun, a pollster and election broker known for conducting complimentary surveys for Yoon during his presidential campaign.
For several weeks, the public discourse in South Korea has focused on this scandal, fueled by leaked conversations in which Myung purportedly boasted about his influence over the presidential couple and several leading figures within the ruling party.
During a press conference on Thursday, Yoon responded to questions regarding his connection with Myung by stating, “I did not engage in any inappropriate behavior and have nothing to conceal concerning Myung Tae-kyun.” He asserted that he never interfered in candidate selection processes at the PPP and that he never solicited Myung for opinion surveys. However, Yoon did acknowledge some assistance from Myung during his primary campaign in 2021.
It remains uncertain whether Yoon’s declarations will alleviate the escalating political turmoil he faces from his adversaries. The main opposition party, the Democratic Party, has called for a genuine apology from Yoon, a reshuffle of senior officials, and an independent investigation into allegations against his wife.
Recently, the Democratic Party released what it claims is an audio recording of phone calls between Yoon and Myung dated May 9, 2022—just prior to Yoon’s inauguration. The opposition argues that the contents of this conversation indicate Yoon granted Myung political favors in exchange for surveys. In the recording, Yoon appears to instruct a PPP committee to endorse senior party member Kim Young-sun for an upcoming by-election, a nomination that ultimately led to Kim’s victory.
In the tape, Myung expresses his gratitude, stating, “I will never forget this favor for my entire life. Thank you!”
South Korea’s election laws prohibit public officials, including the president, from interfering in elections, but there are no specific provisions concerning a president-elect, leaving the legal implications of Yoon’s actions ambiguous. Recent polls indicate Yoon’s approval rating has dropped below 20% for the first time since taking office. Concurrently, Kim Keon Hee has faced other controversies, such as claims of accepting a luxury handbag as a gift from a pastor, raising further questions about the couple’s integrity.
Yoon has issued an apology for the public discomfort caused by the situation while asserting that many of the accusations are inconsistent with the reality. Some lawmakers within the ruling PPP contend that the Democratic Party is intensifying its political assault on Yoon and his wife in an attempt to protect its beleaguered leader, Lee Jae-myung, who is embroiled in legal scandals.
Lee, a controversial figure who narrowly lost to Yoon in the last presidential election, is currently facing four trials involving various corruption charges. The next court decisions regarding Lee’s election law violations and perjury accusations are scheduled for November 15 and November 25. Should he receive prison time or a fine exceeding 1 million won ($750) for any of the cases, he risks being unseated as a lawmaker and barred from running in future elections for five years, though he is expected to contest any guilty verdict.
Polls suggest that Lee is quickly emerging as a frontrunner for the 2027 presidential election.
On the foreign policy front, Yoon has been collaborating closely with leaders in Washington and Tokyo to strengthen security measures in response to threats from North Korea. He expressed optimism that the trilateral relationship will endure and grow under Trump’s administration, indicating a desire to discuss policy coordination with Trump and Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
During Trump’s previous term, there were high-profile summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un focused on nuclear negotiations. Yoon noted that since the collapse of discussions in 2019, North Korea’s military capabilities, including advancements in nuclear technologies and reconnaissance systems linked to intercontinental ballistic missiles, have progressed significantly.
Yoon stated that Trump “will be receiving comprehensive reports soon on how North Korea’s nuclear technology has evolved,” emphasizing an intent to engage in more meaningful discussions following the report’s delivery.
When confronted with concerns over Trump’s “America first” policy potentially harming South Korean interests, Yoon reassured that Korea is taking “multifaceted efforts to mitigate any adverse effects on our economy.” He also acknowledged that dynamics would differ from those experienced during the Biden administration but affirmed that preparations have been ongoing to handle these emerging challenges.