The prosecution is investigating allegations surrounding South Korea’s First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s acquisition of a luxury handbag, purportedly received from Pastor Choi Jae Young. They have reportedly secured the handbag in question and are now verifying its authenticity.
According to legal sources, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Criminal Division 1, led by Chief Prosecutor Kim Seung Ho, received the handbag from the presidential office. The prosecution aims to confirm its authenticity and examine any indications of prior use before deciding on the next steps in the case.
During a closed-door questioning by prosecutors on the 20th, Ms Kim stated that on September 13, 2022, the same day she received the handbag, she instructed an administrative officer at the Blue House, Yu, to return it. An investigation by Seoul’s Voice later revealed that the handbag had not been returned.
During the prosecution’s investigation, Yu also admitted that Kim instructed him to return the luxury handbag to Choi but acknowledged that he had forgotten to do so.
In November 2023, Ms Kim’s side responded to a media inquiry regarding the luxury handbag, claiming it was found at her residence in Hannam-dong. Subsequently, the Presidential Office transferred the handbag to determine if it qualifies as presidential records, retaining custody.
Ms Kim reportedly became aware of the luxury handbag issue when Seoul’s Voice inquired about it.
Choi testified at the National Assembly during Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment hearing, providing estimated values of gifts given to Ms Kim. He stated that the Dior bag was valued at about 3 million won ($2,250), the Chanel perfume set at approximately 1.8 million won ($1,350), and the high-end liquor at around 1 million won ($750), offering these figures as a reference for their worth.
He emphasized the importance of interpreting the receipt of Chanel cosmetics and a Dior bag as violations of the “Kim Young Ran Act,” also known as the anti-graft law, stressing that this issue must be thoroughly addressed and not trivialized.
He continued by saying that it would be best for Ms Kim to acknowledge her mistakes and apologize sincerely, noting that it was unacceptable to disregard the public and attempt to justify her actions with unreasonable excuses.