'Turned Away' Kim Keon-hee's Close Associate...Kyeong-ok Yu Says, “Kim Keon-hee Asked Me to Make a False Statement”

[Financial News] Kyeong-ok Yu, a former presidential office administrative officer and close confidante of Kim Keon-hee, has changed her previous stance that she never delivered a Chanel bag to the First Lady. In court, Yu reversed her earlier testimony, stating, “I made a false statement because Madam Kim asked me to.”
Yu appeared as a witness at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 27 (Presiding Judge Insung Woo) on the 26th, testifying in the ongoing trial of Kim Keon-hee, who faces charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.


Yu, who has been identified as one of the 'three key aides' to Kim Keon-hee since the Kovana Contents era, was known for assisting the First Lady. She reportedly received a Chanel bag from Jeon Sung-bae, also known as Geonjin Beopsa, delivered it to Kim Keon-hee, and later exchanged it for another product of the same brand at her request. Yu had previously denied these allegations during investigations by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki.
However, at the trial, Yu admitted to delivering the Chanel bag and exchanging it at Kim Keon-hee’s request, reversing her previous testimony.
When the Special Prosecutor asked, “Did you ever discuss with Madam Kim how you would testify when you appeared before the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the Special Prosecutor?” Yu replied, “Yes.”
Yu further explained, “When I was summoned by the prosecution, I asked the First Lady, ‘Is Geonjin involved in luxury goods or anything like that?’ and she replied, ‘There are two bags. The one you exchanged is correct.’ The First Lady then asked, ‘Could you say you exchanged it on Geonjin’s behalf as an errand?’”
She added, “From my perspective, I wondered if this would be a serious crime, so I gave that testimony. I acknowledge that my statement was false, and I deeply regret and apologize for it.”
Yu also gave a detailed account of how she received the gift. In July 2022, she received a call from Jeon Sung-bae to ‘bring a cart,’ and met him in the parking lot of Kim Keon-hee’s residence at Acro Vista in Seocho-gu, where she received the items.
Yu stated, “When I brought the cart, he loaded up a bundle wrapped in cloth and a shopping bag,” but maintained that she did not know what was inside at the time.
Regarding the process of exchanging the Chanel bag at Kim Keon-hee’s request, Yu said, “I had to think about what to exchange it for, but the store said only the same category, like bag for bag, was allowed. I took photos of various bags and sent them directly to the First Lady. I believe Kim Keon-hee made the decision via Telegram.”



However, regarding the Graff necklace, Yu echoed Kim Keon-hee’s claim, stating, “I have never received or delivered it.”

Previously, both Jeon Sung-bae and Kim Keon-hee had denied any exchange of valuables such as the Chanel bag and Graff necklace. However, after Jeon submitted the Chanel bag, shoes, and Graff necklace he had kept to the Special Prosecutor and changed his statement, Kim Keon-hee admitted only to receiving two Chanel bags.

When the court asked again, “Have you ever even heard about the necklace?” Yu replied, “I have absolutely no memory. I have never mentioned or seen the necklace.”
The sentencing hearing for Kim Keon-hee is scheduled for the 3rd of next month.

y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter