South Korean lawmaker, wife deny gifting luxury bag to First Lady

The Hankyoreh reports on the initial court appearance of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun and his wife, who face charges under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The couple stands accused of gifting a luxury handbag to the First Lady, Kim Keon-hee, allegedly in return for her support in Kim Ki-hyun's bid for party leadership.

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The special prosecutor politically fabricated charges and forced them upon us.

During the first hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Kim and his wife vehemently denied the allegations. Their legal team asserted that while the wife did gift the bag, Kim Ki-hyun was not involved, and the gift had no connection to his official duties. Furthermore, they challenged the jurisdiction of the special prosecutor's investigation, arguing it fell outside the scope defined by the special act.

Kim himself spoke in court, stating his belief that the investigation was invalid if Kim Keon-hee was not subject to punishment under the special prosecutor law. His wife admitted to passing the bag to the First Lady through a third party but maintained it was a social gesture, not linked to any official capacity. When pressed for details about the intermediary and the timing, she claimed to not remember due to the passage of time.

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I believe that if Kim Keon-hee is not subject to punishment under the special prosecutor law, then this is not a subject of investigation.

The court identified the key issues as the legality of the evidence collected and the 'duty-relatedness' of the alleged favor. The special prosecutor's team discovered the bag and a letter from Kim's wife during a search related to the 'residence relocation suspicions' involving the presidential couple. Kim's side contends the items were illegally seized, while the prosecution claims they obtained a separate warrant after discovering the items.

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The wife gifted the bag to Kim Keon-hee, but the lawmaker was not involved, and there was no connection to his duties.

This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the First Lady and the political implications of such allegations. From a South Korean perspective, the defense's strategy of questioning the special prosecutor's authority and the legality of evidence collection is a common tactic in high-profile cases. The public's attention will be keenly focused on how the court navigates these complex legal arguments and whether the alleged quid pro quo can be proven.

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I do not remember due to the passage of time.