Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok's Remarks: "Internal Prosecutor Issues"
"Difficult to Disclose Whether and When Luxury Bags Were Submitted"
On the 22nd, the Presidential Office responded to claims of a "special treatment investigation" after the prosecution's investigation of First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who is suspected of receiving luxury handbags, was conducted not at the prosecution office but at an annex managed by the Presidential Security Service. The office stated that the allegations of preferential treatment are excessive.
A Presidential Office official met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon and said regarding the claims of special treatment in the First Lady's private prosecution investigation, "(First Lady Kim) simply complied with the prosecution's investigation," adding, "There has never been a precedent where the wife of a sitting president was summoned and subjected to a face-to-face investigation."
The official emphasized again, calling it "the first face-to-face investigation of a sitting First Lady," and said, "The claims of special treatment are excessive."
Regarding Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok's remarks that morning as he arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, stating, "I said there are no exceptions, special treatments, or sanctuaries before our law, but this principle was not upheld during the investigation of the president's wife," the Presidential Office said, "Since this is an ongoing investigation, it is not appropriate for the Presidential Office to comment," but also drew a line by saying, "It seems to be an internal matter within the prosecution."
As First Lady Kim appeared at the prosecution on the 20th for questioning and the Presidential Office is considering submitting the luxury handbags to the prosecution, the official explained, "(Regarding the submission of the handbags) this is also related to the investigation, so it is difficult to comment on whether or when it will happen," adding, "It is a situation that requires review."
When asked whether the Presidential Office was aware in advance of the timing or method of the First Lady's prosecution investigation, the official said, "We stated that it was done at an appropriate time," adding, "There is no separate statement from the Presidential Office regarding the specific investigation method and content. A position will be released later through legal representatives.
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