SEOUL – In response to growing controversy, Prosecutor General Lee One-seok has referred the case concerning First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s acceptance of a luxury Dior bag to a review committee, as confirmed by his office on Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision aims to ensure meticulous deliberation by a committee comprised entirely of external civilian members, reflecting the sensitive nature and high public interest in the case. This move comes after prosecutors initially cleared Kim of violating anti-graft laws, despite her receiving gifts valued at approximately 3 million won (US$2,255) from pastor Choi Jae-young two years ago.
The controversy escalated following the prosecutors’ decision to drop all charges, sparking intense debate within political circles. During a plenary session of the legislation and judiciary committee, Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers criticized the investigation as lenient and biased. DP Rep. Lee Sung-yoon, former chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (SCDPO), called for Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to order a reinvestigation, accusing the prosecution of failing to effectively probe individuals in power.
Conversely, Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok from the ruling People Power Party defended the decision, citing that the Anti-Graft Law does not specifically penalize a public official’s spouse for accepting gifts. This legal perspective highlights the complexities of enforcing anti-corruption statutes in cases involving indirect recipients like spouses.
The decision to refer the case to the review committee seeks to enhance fairness and quell the ongoing dispute, ensuring that all aspects of the case are thoroughly examined outside of the prosecutorial sphere. This approach indicates a significant step towards addressing public demands for transparency and accountability in high-profile cases.