President Lee Won-seok: "Luxury Bag Case, Strict Investigation Based on Evidence and Legal Principles"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok stated on the 7th regarding the investigation into allegations of Kim Geon-hee's receipt of luxury bags, "We will strictly investigate and take action solely based on evidence and legal principles."

On the morning of the same day, while heading to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, Lee responded to questions from waiting reporters with this statement.

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok is answering questions from the press as he arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee said, "I believe there is little significance in adding more words," and added, "As I have already mentioned, the frontline investigation team of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office will swiftly and strictly investigate and take action solely based on evidence and legal principles, so I ask you all to watch the progress and results of the investigation."

He continued, "I will stop here today and will not add any further comments."

Regarding criticism from the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, that this is a 'special prosecutor defense,' Lee replied, "There will be an opportunity to speak later," and asked, "Please observe the investigation conducted by the frontline investigation team."

On the 2nd, Lee received a regular weekly report from Song Kyung-ho, head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and instructed, "Form a dedicated investigation team and swiftly and thoroughly investigate the allegations related to Kim Geon-hee under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act based on evidence and legal principles to clearly ascertain the truth."

Subsequently, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office formed a dedicated investigation team by adding three prosecutors from departments under the 4th Deputy Chief, including the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 3, Fair Trade Investigation Division, and Crime Proceeds Recovery Division, in addition to the lead prosecutor of the Criminal Division 1 who had been investigating Kim's case.

The investigation team has notified Baek Eun-jong, representative of Seoul's Voice, who filed a complaint against Kim Geon-hee and President Yoon Seok-yeol, and Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary General of the People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee, who filed a complaint against Pastor Choi Jae-young for delivering luxury bags to Kim, to appear on the 9th.