The special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee said on the 22nd that it recovered a Graff necklace and Chanel bag that the Unification Church allegedly delivered to Kim's side in 2022 to seek favors on pending issues, from shaman Jeon Seong-bae, known as Geonjin.
At a regular briefing that day, the special counsel said, "On the afternoon of the 21st, through Jeon's attorney, we voluntarily received and seized a Graff necklace worth 62.2 million won, along with one pair of Chanel shoes and three bags that had been exchanged after Kim's side received them," adding, "Kim and Jeon have so far denied receiving and delivering the necklace and other items, but recently Jeon submitted to the court a statement to the effect that he received valuables from the Unification Church, delivered them to Kim's side, and later got back the items and the exchanged goods."
It added, "The serial numbers of the items seized from Jeon matched those confirmed during the investigation," and said, "We will clarify at trial and in the investigation the circumstances of each item's delivery, return, and custody."
In response to the question of whether the necklace and other items delivered to former administrative officer Yu Kyung-ok went all the way to Kim, the special counsel said, "There is sufficient indication that Kim was directly involved in the item exchange process and directly received the items." The special counsel said the evidence had not been damaged but that there were signs the bags and shoes had been used, adding, "If necessary to identify who actually used them, we may conduct examinations such as fingerprint analysis."
Regarding this, Kim's defense team said, "The items the special counsel claims to have secured have not been verified as having been delivered to or received by the defendant (Kim), and the circumstances of their submission to the special counsel have not been substantiated at all." It continued, "In particular, because it is clear the items entered the special counsel's office via the Geonjin side, which has been identified as a co-conspirator, it is necessary to closely examine the possibility of illegality or intermediate inducement during the collection and submission process, and whether their identity has been maintained."
Earlier, on the 14th, at the first trial hearing, Jeon, who was indicted and detained on charges of receiving tens of millions of won in valuables by claiming to arrange various favors from the Unification Church and corporations by using his closeness with Kim, acknowledged that he delivered luxury bags and a necklace to Kim's side.
However, at the time of the trial, Jeon's side said, "Around 2024, we got back three bags and shoes presumed to have been exchanged for two Chanel bags," and added, "Jeon only briefly held valuables that were to be ultimately delivered to Kim, so it cannot be said to constitute the elements of a crime."
Meanwhile, the special counsel said, "We received a medical certificate from the attorney of former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Bae-yong, who was scheduled to be questioned as a reference witness, and we are currently verifying it and reviewing the future investigation schedule." Originally, Lee was scheduled to be questioned by the special counsel on the 20th but failed to appear due to health reasons.