A special counsel team announced on December 27 that Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party and his wife have been indicted without detention for giving a luxury clutch bag to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The gift was delivered shortly after Kim was elected PPP chairperson in March 2023, allegedly in return for her support in the election. The team could not establish bribery charges against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, referring the case to police for further investigation.
On December 27, a special counsel team in Seoul indicted Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and his wife, surnamed Lee, without detention for violating the anti-graft law by giving a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.67 million won (about $1,760) to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The gift was delivered shortly after Kim's election as PPP chairperson in March 2023, suspected to be in exchange for her support in the party leadership race.
The anti-graft law bars providing money or valuables to the spouse of a public official in connection with official duties. The team stated it could not determine the exact circumstances of the gift's delivery, and due to time constraints and lack of cooperation from those involved, it was unable to establish bribery charges against former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife. The case has been referred to police for further probe into potential bribery involving the former first couple.
"This is a case of high-level corruption in which a ruling party leader gave a luxury bag to the president's wife in return for winning the party leadership race, confirming long-standing suspicions in political history that presidents interfere in their party's leadership elections," the special counsel said. It added that the incident "constitutes a serious crime that undermines party democracy, including a violation of the president's duty of political neutrality and the breakdown of the separation between the party and the government."
The clutch bag and a thank-you note written by Lee were discovered at the former first lady's home during a raid last month. Kim has acknowledged the gift but denied bribery allegations, describing it as mere social courtesy. Lee reportedly told investigators that her husband was unaware of the gift.
