Ulsan Democrats and progressives denounce court over ‘luxury handbag lobbying’ ruling, call for Kim Gi-hyeon to resign

【Financial News | Ulsan—Reporter Choi Soo-sang】 The pro-government camp and civic groups in Ulsan have successively criticized the court over the first-instance ruling in the ‘luxury handbag lobbying allegations’ case involving People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon (Ulsan Nam-gu B), and called on him to resign. ·
Choi Deok-jong, chair of the Democratic Party of Korea’s Ulsan Nam-gu B District Committee, held a press conference on the 2nd and called for Kim to resign from the National Assembly immediately, asking, “Is it common sense that the wife is punished while the husband was the party leader?”
Citing the first-instance court’s ruling on October 30 that sentenced Kim’s spouse to a fine of 5 million won and found that the luxury handbag had been given in return for support at the 2023 party convention, Choi urged Kim to take political responsibility.
He criticized the ruling, saying, “The money for the bag came from Rep. Kim’s parliamentary salary account, and there was a note bearing his name in the box,” and, “The court’s acquittal is not proof of innocence; it is simply a lack of evidence.”
He also criticized Kim for invoking the cause of justice when acquitted but protesting that he could not accept his spouse’s conviction, asking, “So it’s justice when it benefits you, but unacceptable when it doesn’t?”
That same day, the ‘Kim Gi-hyeon Special Prosecutor Pan-Citizens’ Action Group’ also held a press conference and criticized the court, calling the ruling “a typical case of cutting off the tail while the main culprits behind the illegal conduct are nowhere to be seen, and a ruling that encourages corruption and bribery.”


The group criticized the ruling, saying, “It has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Rep. Kim was not involved,” and, “This ruling will encourage the country to become a place where expensive goods openly proliferate in the public sphere.”
The Progressive Party’s Ulsan City Chapter also held a press conference that day, pointing out that the ruling could set an improper precedent under which politicians can conduct lobbying through their spouses without being punished themselves.
It also pointed out, “It has been confirmed that the 2.67 million won cost of the bag came from Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon’s parliamentary salary account,” and, “A lawmaker’s salary is public money provided to look after people’s lives and work for their livelihoods—not money given to buy a luxury handbag and deliver it to the president’s spouse.”
It demanded, “Stop embarrassing Ulsan citizens and resign from the National Assembly immediately.”
Ulsan’s pro-government camp and civil society are calling for the special counsel team to appeal immediately and reexamine the alleged collusive relationship, and say they will continue joint action until Kim steps down from his seat in the National Assembly.
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