Prosecution likely not to indict first lady in Dior handbag case

First lady Kim Keon Hee arrives at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 8. [YONHAP] Prosecutors are likely to announce this week that they will not indict first lady Kim Keon Hee for accepting a luxury handbag as a gift after an investigation review committee at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office determined that no criminal charges were applicable in the case. The committee, which includes 15 external legal experts, advised against indicting the first lady during a meeting with prosecutors and Kim’s lawyer at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office on Friday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office had already decided not to charge the first lady with graft, bribery and misuse of power after conducting a three-month probe into allegations that Kim had inappropriately accepted a blue calfskin Lady Dior pouch worth 3 million won ($2,240) from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young in September 2022. Investigators working on the case determined that the bag and other items gifted to Kim by Choi had no bearing on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official duties, according to prosecution officials, The case was referred to the investigative review committee by outgoing Prosecutor General Lee One-seok, who said advice from outside experts was necessary to ensure the probe’s fairness and dispel suspicions regarding the prosecution service’s impartiality. Lee previously said that he wanted the investigation into the allegations against Kim wrapped up before he leaves office on Sept. 15. Although prosecutors are required to consider the panel's decision, they are not legally obligated to follow its advice. However, the investigation review committee’s pending advice on how Choi’s involvement in the case should be handled could affect the prosecution’s final decision on whether to indict the first lady. Related ArticlePolice investigate bag-gifting pastor for defamation and election law violationsPastor says handbag video meant to show 'true character' of Yoon, first lady Prosecutors are also investigating Choi on suspicions of graft, trespassing, obstruction of official duties and conducting illegal political activities by secretly filming himself handing the Dior handbag to the first lady with a hidden camera during their meeting. The video was released by the left-leaning YouTube channel Voice of Seoul last November — more than a year after Choi recorded it — leading to accusations that the pastor had conspired with the outlet to damage the first couple’s standing in the lead-up to the April general election in which the president’s People Power Party suffered a crushing defeat. But Choi has denied that he set out to ensnare Kim by filming her, arguing that “undercover reporting is intended to support the people’s right to know” and is “not a crime.” He previously said that he recorded their exchange because he “knew what kind of people President Yoon and first lady Kim are” and wanted to “let people see their true character.” The pastor also claimed that he had previously witnessed Kim “inappropriately interfering in state affairs by meddling in government appointments” and recorded the first lady’s acceptance of his gift to show how she was “privately exploiting the president’s authority for herself.” Choi, who had asked to attend Friday’s meeting but was denied permission per regulations, argued that the investigation review committee had erred by only considering the opinions of Kim’s lawyer and the prosecution service before issuing its advice against indicting the first lady. BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]