South Korea's president denies wrongdoing in influence-peddling scandal

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denied any wrongdoing on Thursday amid a growing influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife. The allegations suggest they improperly influenced candidate selections for a parliamentary by-election in 2022. Yoon stated he has nothing to hide regarding his ties to election broker Myung Tae-kyun, who allegedly boasted about his influence over Yoon and the ruling party. Recent audio recordings have raised questions about Yoon's involvement in candidate nominations, but it remains unclear if he violated election laws. Yoon's approval ratings have dropped below 20%, coinciding with other scandals involving his wife. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party has intensified its criticism, linking the scandal to its own leader's legal troubles.