Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Raids Kim Gi-hyeon's Office Over Roger Vivier Allegations... Will They Uncover Party Convention Intervention?

[Financial News] The Kim Keon Hee Special Prosecutor Team, led by Min Joong-ki, has launched a compulsory investigation into allegations that Kim Keon Hee received a luxury handbag from the spouse of Kim Gi-hyeon, a member of the People Power Party.
On the 17th, the Special Prosecutor Team dispatched investigators to conduct search and seizure operations at Kim Gi-hyeon's office in the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido and his residence in Seongdong-gu.
Kim's wife, Ms. Lee, is suspected of handing over a Roger Vivier handbag worth approximately 1.8 million won to Kim Keon Hee around the time of the People Power Party convention in March 2023.
The Special Prosecutor Team became fully aware of these allegations after conducting a search and seizure at Kim Keon Hee's residence, Acro Vista, on the 6th of last month.
At that time, the Special Prosecutor Team initiated a compulsory investigation to determine whether so-called 'higher-ups,' including Kim Keon Hee, were involved in irregular contract awards such as the 21 Gram case. While searching for specific items like a Christian Dior coat and bracelet, the team discovered a Roger Vivier handbag and a letter from Kim Gi-hyeon's spouse expressing gratitude for supporting her husband's election as party leader. After initially withdrawing, the team obtained a new search warrant later that day and seized the items.
Both Kim Gi-hyeon and Kim Keon Hee have acknowledged the delivery of the handbag but have emphasized that there was no solicitation involved. Kim Keon Hee's side stated, "At the time, the newly elected ruling party leader's camp delivered a clutch bag worth about one million won to the president's spouse as a gesture of courtesy," adding, "However, it was a social and ceremonial gift with no ulterior motive or solicitation." Kim Gi-hyeon also asserted, "My wife, as the spouse of the newly elected ruling party leader, gave the gift to the president's wife as a matter of social etiquette," and added, "Neither I, who had already been elected as party leader, nor my wife, had any reason or content to solicit favors from former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife."
The Special Prosecutor Team is investigating whether Kim Keon Hee and former President Yoon Suk Yeol were involved in Kim Gi-hyeon's election as party leader. Given that Kim Keon Hee has also been implicated in the Unification Church's mass membership allegations involving the People Power Party, the team suspects she may have tried to ensure the election of a candidate favorable to Yoon Suk Yeol. The investigation is focusing on whether Ms. Lee delivered the handbag to help secure Kim Gi-hyeon's victory.
To this end, the Special Prosecutor Team summoned Ms. Lee to their office on the 5th as a suspect for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and questioned her.
With the Special Prosecutor Team now launching a compulsory investigation against Kim Gi-hyeon following Ms. Lee, the probe into Kim Keon Hee's alleged intervention in the party convention is gaining momentum. As the investigation period expires on the 28th and the summons of former President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled for the 20th, the team plans to focus its efforts on uncovering any wrongdoing by Yoon and his wife.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter