"Prosecutor, have you investigated all the first ladies over the years?"
First lady Kim Keon-hee traded sharp barbs with the special counsel in the bribery case against People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon and his spouse over alleged violations of the anti-graft law. When the special counsel said it was "unusual" that Kim said she could not remember how she received a luxury bag worth 2.67 million won, Kim pushed back, saying, "You only investigated me, right? Then how can you say it's unusual?" The exchange with the bench also grew heated.
The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 22 (presiding judge Cho Hyeong-woo, senior judge) held a hearing on the 10th in the case against Rep. Kim and spouse Ms. Lee on charges of violating the anti-graft law and called Kim as a witness for questioning.
The clash began as Kim was asked how she came to receive a Roger Vivier clutch bag from a French luxury brand and a handwritten letter from Lee.
When the special counsel asked whether she received the bag and the letter, Kim said, "I didn't know at first, but later recognized it," adding, "I didn't receive it directly. It came to me indirectly from somewhere, but I don't remember well through whom."
As Kim repeatedly answered that she could not remember how it was delivered, the special counsel said, "It appears unusual to receive a luxury gift and a handwritten letter," and asked, "Shouldn't you remember it a little better?"
Kim immediately shot back, "Prosecutor, have you investigated all the first ladies over the years?" She continued, "You only did me, right? Then how can you say it's unusual," adding, "Your statement that it's unusual is wrong."
When the special counsel again pointed out that "it's unusual from the public's perspective," Kim countered, "Do the public really know?"
She added, "Prosecutor, you also don't know what style the presidential residence runs on or how it operates right now, do you? Haven't you only done prosecutorial work?" and said, "Even though we were the (prosecutor) general, we had no idea what was happening at the Blue House or what system it ran on."
As the back-and-forth between the special counsel and Kim dragged on, the bench also began asking questions. When the court asked, "It's not that the delivery of the bag wasn't unusual, right?" Kim said, "The prosecutor's questions are coercive," adding, "I don't understand trying to force me into being a criminal."
When Rep. Kim's side objected to the special counsel's questioning style, the court said, "It's natural to press the recipient on how it was received."
At that, Kim also addressed the bench, saying, "It's natural to press and good to keep possibilities open, but I don't think it's appropriate to go beyond speculation and establish another crime," and, "Judge, please don't take sides and listen a bit more precisely."
Kim acknowledged receiving the clutch bag. But she denied the special counsel's claim that there was a quid pro quo between Rep. Kim's victory in the People Power Party leadership election in Mar. 2023 and the gift.
When the special counsel asked whether she received the bag in return for support in the party leadership race, Kim said, "The party leadership is nothing I would pay attention to and I have no idea," adding, "That's slandering leader Kim Gi-hyeon."
Explaining how she found the bag belatedly, Kim said that while serving as first lady she needed various types of clutch bags.
When the court asked when she found the bag, Kim answered, "In fact, a clutch bag is essential for a first lady," adding, "You always need to have a clutch bag to match the dress code."
She continued, "If I had seen that, I think I would have used it, but I didn't. I think I found it later while sorting through things."
Kim said, "I needed clutch bags in different colors to match outfits, so while they may look expensive, I bought many inexpensive ones," adding, "I also bought knockoffs, and I once asked a friend's younger sibling to make one for a small amount of money and used it."
Kim was also summoned as a witness in this trial on the 13th of last month but did not appear in court. At the time, the court imposed fines of 3 million won on Kim and issued a warrant to compel appearance.
On this day, Kim appeared in court voluntarily. After finishing the witness examination, when the court asked whether she appeared on her own, Kim said, "I came voluntarily," adding, "Please reduce the fines." The court canceled the entire 3 million won in fines.
Rep. Kim and spouse were indicted on charges of providing a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.67 million won to Kim after the People Power Party leadership election in Mar. 2023. The special counsel believes the couple handed over the bag in return for support received in the leadership race. Rep. Kim's side acknowledges gifting the bag but denies any solicitation or quid pro quo and disputes the charges.