A Seoul district court acquits a People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, of anti-graft charges tied to a luxury bag gifted to former first lady Kim Keon Hee. The case concerns a Roger Vivier clutch bag his wife gave to the then first lady in March 2023. Prosecutors, represented by special counsel Min Joong-ki, argued the gift was in return for support in Kim’s election as PPP leader earlier that month.
While the court rules the lawmaker not guilty, it convicts his wife of the same charges. She is sentenced to a fine of 5 million won. Prosecutors had sought prison time for both the lawmaker and his wife, including a one-year sentence for him and a six-month term for her, but the court’s outcomes differ for the couple.
Yonhap reports the acquittal in multiple versions, including “lead” and “urgent” items, while Korea Times covers the same core decision and emphasizes the court’s finding of not guilty for the lawmaker alongside the fine for his wife.
