The first full trial of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun and spouse, accused of giving Kim Keon-hee a Roger Vivier bag worth about 2.6 million won, will be held next month.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 22 (Chief Judge Cho Hyeong-woo) held the third pretrial preparation hearing on the 16th in the case of Representative Kim and spouse's alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and said it would hold the first trial on the 22nd of next month.
A pretrial preparation hearing is a procedure to discuss plans for evidence before a full trial. Although defendant Representative Kim was not obliged to appear, Kim appeared in court that day.
At the hearing, Kim's side said it would check whether Representative Kim's fingerprints remain on the Roger Vivier bag and the packaging box.
Representative Kim said, "The indictment says I personally carried and delivered the bag," adding, "It presupposes that my fingerprints or DNA remain."
Kim then asked the court to move up the first trial date, noting that the defendant is currently directing the local elections.
However, the court said, "Other trial dates have already been set," adding, "There are many cases under our charge, so there are limits to concentrating on this case." The court then set the first court hearing for the 22nd of next month.
On Mar. 8, 2023, Representative Kim and spouse are accused of providing a Roger Vivier clutch bag to Kim on the 17th of the same month in return for support in the People Power Party leadership election. It was found that the payment for the bag was withdrawn from Representative Kim's salary account.
The special counsel team viewed the bag as a gift related to presidential duties and applied the charge of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
Representative Kim has acknowledged that the spouse provided the gift but has continued to argue that there was no improper solicitation and that it was a matter of social courtesy.