Prosecutors questioned First Lady Kim Keon Hee face-to-face for the first time from Saturday to early Sunday on allegations of receiving a Christian Dior handbag and other luxury gifts in exchange for favors and her involvement in a stock manipulation case, the South Korean prosecution confirmed Sunday. This marks the first time in history that the wife of a sitting president, President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been summoned for a prosecution investigation. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office announced Sunday that Kim was questioned for around 12 hours, from 1:30 p.
m. Saturday to 1:20 a.m.
Sunday, at an undisclosed government building behind closed doors "for security and safety reasons." Kim's legal representative, lawyer Choi Ji-woo, stated Sunday, "Kim diligently cooperated with the investigation and truthfully testified to all the facts." He added that she had fully explained her position.
The scandal centers on accusations that Kim illegally received a Dior handbag worth about 3 million won ($2,158) and other expensive gifts from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young in September 2022, allegedly in exchange for favors. Kim's close aide, surnamed Yoo, conceded during questioning in early July that the first lady did receive the handbag but claimed she ordered it returned to the pastor the same day. However, Yoo said she forgot to return it because of other tasks, and the handbag has since remained unused and stored by the presidential office, emphasizing that there wa.