Special Prosecutor Seeks One-Year Sentence for Kim Gi-hyeon and Six Months for His Wife Over 'Bag Given to Kim Keon Hee'

[Financial News] The Special Prosecutor for Kim Keon-hee, led by Special Prosecutor Min Joung-kie, sought prison terms for People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon and his wife, who were indicted on charges of giving Kim Keon Hee a Roger Vivier clutch bag in exchange for support in his party leader election.
On the 28th, the special counsel sought a one-year prison term for Kim and a six-month term for his wife, Ms. Lee, during the closing hearing of the first-instance trial on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The case was heard by the 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo. The special counsel also requested the forfeiture of the Roger Vivier clutch bag.
In its final statement, the special counsel team criticized Kim, saying, "Defendant Kim Gi-hyeon rose to the position of ruling-party leader based on the presidential office's improper support for his party leader election, and provided Kim Keon Hee with a luxury bag worth 2.67 million won in return." It added, "This act went beyond a simple personal relationship and combined a power relationship with relevance to official duties, directly undermining the legislative intent of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act."
The special counsel explained the grounds for its sentencing request, saying, "Although he attempted to use his public position for personal purposes and repay a political debt, he maintained silence and evaded responsibility in court without showing genuine remorse."
Kim and his wife were previously brought to trial on charges of giving Kim Keon Hee one Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.67 million won on March 17, 2023, in exchange for Kim's election as party leader at the People Power Party's convention that year.
The special counsel team believed that former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife had supported Kim ahead of the convention, and that Ms. Lee gave the bag in return.
Kim and his wife have denied the charges since the first hearing. They argued that the bag was given as a matter of social etiquette and therefore was not punishable under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. They also maintained that the special counsel team's seizure of the bag from Kim Keon Hee's residence was unlawful.
In their closing arguments, the defense lawyers countered, "The alleged specific support provided by the presidential couple in the election itself was not proven, nor was the alleged conspiracy established that the defendants recognized it as 'help.'"
They stressed, "If it had been a return gift for election support, a gift should naturally have been given to former President Yoon Suk Yeol. However, there is no record whatsoever of a gift being purchased for him." They added, "Ms. Lee independently handled the purchase and payment of the bag and wrote the handwritten letter, while payment notifications were sent only to her. Kim never knew about or approved any of it."
Kim personally gave a PowerPoint presentation to rebut the special counsel's claims. Regarding the amendment adopting a 100% party-member voting rule, which the special counsel cited as evidence of election support, he argued, "It was introduced through the broader trend among political parties at the time of strengthening party members' rights and through a legitimate consensus-building process." He also protested, "Since the special counsel's forensic materials include a conversation saying, 'Yoon's preferred candidate is not Kim Gi-hyeon,' the claim that the rule change was intended to help a particular person is a seriously unscientific analysis and a leap in logic."
Kim Keon Hee, who appeared as a witness on the 10th of last month, also denied any solicitation relationship, saying she did not remember directly receiving the handbag from Kim and his wife.
Kim Keon Hee said, "It came indirectly from somewhere, but given the circumstances, I don't usually ask about such things." She added, "I think being honest would be helpful, but I don't remember clearly." She continued, "I didn't remember it well because I didn't receive it directly from Ms. Lee."
[email protected] Lee Chang-hoon Reporter