The decision was made four months after the prosecution chief ordered the district office to set up a special investigation team for the case. SEOUL - The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has decided to drop the anti-corruption charges against the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, closing its investigation into allegations that she received a luxury Christian Dior handbag and other expensive gifts in exchange for favours. The prosecutors’ office, which is in charge of the Ms Kim Keon-hee’s case, recently decided not to press charges and has reported its decision to Prosecutor General Lee One-seok, according to legal circles on Aug 21.
The prosecution dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence to prove that Ms Kim had violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The decision was made four months after the prosecution chief ordered the district office to set up a special investigation team for the case. The prosecutors’ office reportedly concluded that the charges that Ms Kim violated South Korea’s anti-graft law cannot be made against her in connection with allegations that she illegally received the luxury bag worth three million won (S$2,900) and other expensive gifts from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young two years ago.
The investigation focused on the potential illicit ties stemming from Ms Kim’s acceptance of the Dior handbag from Mr Choi in September 2022, four months after President Yoon’s inauguration. The prosecutors primarily inves.