Kim Keon-hee's Trial Remarks Spark Outrage: 'Are You Investigating Me Alone?'

South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee has drawn sharp criticism from political circles for her remarks made while testifying as a witness in a trial related to a luxury handbag scandal. During questioning by a special prosecutor, Kim reportedly asked investigators, "Have you investigated all the first ladies? Did you only investigate me?"

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Have you investigated all the first ladies? Did you only investigate me?

The comments were made during the trial of Kim Gi-hyeon, a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party, and his wife, who are accused of giving Kim Keon-hee a luxury clutch bag worth approximately 2.67 million won (about $1,900) in 2022 as a bribe in exchange for support in Kim Gi-hyeon's bid for party leadership. When the special prosecutor pressed Kim on whether receiving such a bag from a ruling party leader or his wife was unusual, she questioned the premise, implying a pattern of such incidents involving other first ladies.

Opposition politicians reacted strongly to Kim's statements. Park Jie-won, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, posted on Facebook, calling her remarks "arrogant" and questioning who else had received bribes. He suggested that if the situation continued to be "ridiculous," it would turn into a "drama." Park also alluded to a previous incident where investigators were allegedly unable to confiscate the First Lady's phone, criticizing the perceived "emperor-like investigation" tactics.

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If the situation continues to be ridiculous, it will turn into a drama.

Park Kyung-mi, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, issued a statement criticizing Kim's explanations as a "continuous string of sophistry that tramples on the common sense and patience of the people." She accused Kim of displaying an "arrogant perception" by questioning whether the public would even be aware of such luxury goods. Hong Seong-gyu, spokesperson for the Progressive Party, also condemned Kim's earlier remarks about needing different clutch bags for different outfits and buying many "cheap fakes," calling her a "blood pressure raiser" and "anger inducer."

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Her explanations were a continuous string of sophistry that tramples on the common sense and patience of the people.