Seoul High Prosecutors Office Revisits Decision on First Lady’s Luxury Gift Case

SEOUL: The Seoul High Prosecutors Office has initiated a review of an earlier decision by a lower prosecutor's office not to indict South Korea's First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, concerning her receipt of a luxury handbag and other expensive gifts from a Korean American pastor. According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul High Prosecutors Office has reassigned the case to its criminal department to determine the appropriateness of the Seoul District Prosecutors Office's previous decision and to assess the necessity of a re-investigation. This move comes after an appeal was lodged by Baek Eun-jong, head of the internet news outlet Voice of Seoul, challenging the non-indictment decision regarding the first lady and her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol. In 2022, the district prosecutors concluded that the luxury gifts, including a Dior handbag valued at 3 million won (approximately US$2,187), were not given in exchange for favors, thus deciding against charging the presidential couple. However, the case gained signific ant media attention when Choi Jae-young, the pastor involved, was reported to have covertly recorded his gift-giving meeting at the first lady's office and the footage was later broadcasted by Voice of Seoul. Following the publication, Baek Eun-jong filed a bribery complaint against the president and his wife, prompting the current review by the higher prosecutors' office. Despite the renewed scrutiny, officials suggest that it is unlikely the decision not to indict will be overturned.