SEOUL (ANN/KOREA HERALD) – South Korean prosecutors on Wednesday closed the high-profile case concerning First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s alleged acceptance of luxury gifts, including a Christian Dior handbag, despite strong objections from opposition parties. The case, which has been a source of political contention since late last year, was officially dismissed without charges.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office announced that neither the giver nor the receiver of the gifts, valued at approximately KRW5 million (USD3,800), including the handbag priced at KRW3 million, would face legal action. President Yoon Suk Yeol, the spouse of the first lady and a public official, was cleared of wrongdoing. The prosecutors concluded that the gifts had no connection to the president’s official duties, thus not violating South Korea’s anti-graft or anti-bribery laws.
The decision was further based on the fact that current anti-corruption laws do not clearly outline penalties for public officials’ spouses. As a result, the prosecution found that Kim’s actions were not punishable under the existing legal framework.
The investigation found that the gifts that Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young allegedly gave were intended to “build a friendship” with Kim rather than influence President Yoon’s duties. The same conclusion was reached for two employees of a local media outlet, Voice of Seoul, who exposed the hidden camera footage of the transaction in November 2023.
Although the prosecution had dropped charges against Kim in August, the case was revisited at the request of the accuser, Pastor Choi. Following a review by the prosecution’s external panel, it was recommended that Kim not be indicted, while Choi faces trial for his accusations.
Pastor Choi initially accused the first lady in December 2023 of accepting the luxury handbag. President Yoon later acknowledged his wife’s misconduct in an interview with KBS in February and issued a public apology during a press conference in May.
Political Fallout
Wednesday’s decision ignited backlash from opposition politicians. Representative Jo Seoung-lae, senior spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), criticized the prosecution’s move, claiming it signaled the need for a special counsel to restore justice.
Jo also accused the prosecution of prioritising political elites over justice, saying, “Kim received a luxury gift, meddled in state affairs, and influenced the political party’s candidate nominations for the general election, yet she remains unpunished.”
Representative Han Min-soo, another spokesperson of the DPK, echoed similar sentiments, questioning the impartiality of the prosecution’s investigation into the first lady’s conduct.
“Is Kim Keon Hee more feared than the people, who are the true owners of South Korea?” Han remarked, criticising the legal system’s handling of the case.
On the same day, President Yoon vetoed three parliamentary bills, two of which pertained to his wife and potentially to himself. Since taking office in May 2022, Yoon has vetoed 24 bills, earning him the distinction of being the second-most frequent bill-vetoing president in South Korean history, trailing only former President Syngman Rhee, who vetoed 45 bills during his tenure from 1948 to 1960.
Among the vetoed bills is one calling for an independent investigation into Kim’s alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and her interference in the ruling party’s nomination process ahead of the upcoming general election in April. The DPK, which holds a majority in the National Assembly, had reintroduced the bill in September despite a ruling party boycott.
Another vetoed bill sought to address President Yoon’s alleged interference in an internal probe into the death of Marine conscript Corporal Chae Su-geun in July 2023. Both this and a similar bill vetoed in May failed to pass after revotes in the National Assembly, which requires 200 out of 300 members to override a presidential veto.
As South Korea’s political landscape continues to be shaped by these high-stakes legal battles, the debate surrounding the role of political elites in the country’s justice system remains a contentious issue.
