Kim Ki-hyun Acquitted in First Trial in 'Kim Keon Hee Luxury Gift' Case; Wife Fined 5 Million Won

"No objective evidence that Kim Ki-hyun conspired"

Kim Ki-hyun, a People Power Party lawmaker accused of giving First Lady Kim Keon Hee a luxury clutch bag worth around 2.6 million won in return for her support during his party leadership race, was found not guilty at his first-instance trial. His spouse, who personally delivered the bag, was fined.

Kim Kihyun, a People Power Party lawmaker indicted on charges of giving First Lady Kim Keon Hee a clutch bag worth around 2.6 million won, attends his first-instance sentencing hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 30th. Yonhap News.

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Cho Hyungwoo, on the 30th found Kim not guilty of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and fined his spouse, identified only as A, 5 million won. The special prosecutor's team led by Min Joongki had sought a one-year prison term for Kim and a six-month prison term for A.

The court found that Kim's participation in the offense had not been proven. It acknowledged, however, that there were suspicious circumstances, including that the purchase was paid for with a family credit card linked to Kim's salary account and that a sticky note reading "Kim Ki-hyun, party leader" was attached to the envelope containing the letter. But it found no objective evidence or testimony from those involved directly supporting those circumstances.

A was accused of giving Kim Keon Hee a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.67 million won and a handwritten thank-you letter through an official at the presidential office on March 17, 2023, after Kim was elected People Power Party leader on March 8 of that year. The special prosecutor's team viewed the gift as a token of thanks for help A had received from then-President Yoon Suk Yeol during the leadership race.

The court found A guilty. It acknowledged that the election of a party leader was not itself among the president's statutory duties. However, it found that Yoon's position to influence the election derived from his official position as president. As grounds, it cited Yoon's expression of support for introducing a rule under which 100% of the vote would be determined by party members. The court also pointed out that Yoon showed hostility toward lawmakers Na Kyungwon and Ahn Cheolsoo, who were running for party leader, but not toward Kim.

The court also rejected the claim that the gift was merely a customary greeting. It said the clutch bag was an expensive luxury item by social standards and that there was little basis to conclude that A and Kim Keon Hee had been acquainted beforehand.

The court also rejected the requests to dismiss the indictment and exclude evidence allegedly obtained unlawfully. It found that the case was reasonably related to allegations that Kim Keon Hee had received expensive gifts and therefore fell within the scope of the special prosecutor's investigation. It also ruled that there had been no illegality in discovering the clutch bag during a search of Kim's residence in November last year and seizing it that same day under a separate warrant.

The court said A's offense was not minor because it undermined public trust in the president, who is expected to demonstrate a high level of integrity. However, it took into account that the value was not particularly high and that the offense occurred only once.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.