Kim Keon Hee’s Side Acknowledges Only the ‘Chanel Bag’ Without Bribery or Solicitation... What’s the Calculation?

[Financial News] For the first time, Kim Keon Hee has admitted to receiving a Chanel bag through Jeon Sungbae, a Buddhist monk known as Geonjin. However, while expressing her apologies, Kim emphasized that the gift was not a result of any solicitation or compensation from the Unification Church. With the special prosecutor’s team already in possession of video calls and physical evidence, it appears that her strategy is to minimize criminal liability, even if she faces moral criticism.
On the 5th, Kim’s legal team released a statement saying, “Kim Keon Hee acknowledges having received ‘two bags as gifts’ from Mr. Jeon,” adding, “She deeply regrets disappointing the public due to her inappropriate conduct as the spouse of a public official and reflects on her actions.”
The statement continued, “Although Kim initially declined the bags, she ultimately failed to refuse them due to Mr. Jeon’s persuasion, recognizing that she should have been more rigorous as the spouse of a public official. She has never used the gifts and has already returned them all to Mr. Jeon in the past.”
Furthermore, the legal team stated, “Through this incident, Kim Keon Hee has come to realize the gravity of her role as the spouse of a public official and the high expectations of the public. She humbly accepts the public’s criticism and, as always, will faithfully cooperate with all procedures and reveal the truth without any falsehood. Since Kim is deeply reflecting on her improper conduct, we will strive to ensure that judgments on other matters are based on facts and legal principles, not speculation or distortion.”
However, the legal team stressed, “We make it clear that there was no collusion with the Unification Church or any form of solicitation or compensation involved in this process.” They also stated, “We categorically deny the alleged receipt of the Graff necklace.”
To summarize Kim’s position: ‘She could not refuse Mr. Jeon’s offer, but there was no collusion, solicitation, or compensation involving the Unification Church.’ This can be interpreted as an apology to the public, while asserting no legal responsibility.
Under criminal law, bribery charges apply only to public officials and not to the spouses of public officials. In the case of third-party bribery, it must be proven that Kim Keon Hee’s acceptance of the Chanel bag was connected to the official duties of her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Regulations restricting the acceptance of valuables, such as the Public Service Ethics Act or the Anti-Graft Act, also do not explicitly mention the president’s spouse.
Therefore, while Kim’s side expresses remorse, their strong denial of any connection to the Unification Church is seen by legal experts as an acknowledgment of moral responsibility while keeping legal risks in mind.
The legal team also argued, “Although the special prosecutor claims there were various solicitations in exchange for valuables, such solicitations were never conveyed to Kim Keon Hee. More importantly, they were unrelated to the specific official duties of the president, and were merely vague expectations or expressions of goodwill.” They added, “Yoon Young-ho, the former head of the Unification Church World Headquarters who delivered the gifts, has himself stated that he never made any specific requests to Kim Keon Hee or the president.”
The denial of the Graff necklace allegation appears to be influenced by the lack of evidence beyond Mr. Jeon’s testimony, unlike the Chanel bag. Additionally, since the Graff necklace (valued at 62.2 million won) is much more expensive than the two Chanel bags (one worth 8 million won and the other 12 million won), the court may interpret it as more than just a simple gift.
The legal team also questioned the credibility of Mr. Jeon’s statements, noting, “Mr. Jeon’s testimony, who is the key witness in this case, has changed multiple times from the initial investigation to the court proceedings.”
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter