Prosecutor General Refers 'Kim Yeo-sa Luxury Bag' to Investigation Deliberation Committee: "Resolve Without Controversy"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok referred the case of First Lady Kim Geon-hee's luxury handbag receipt to the Prosecutorial Deliberation Committee.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on the 23rd, "The Prosecutor General referred the case of First Lady Kim Geon-hee's violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, including the legal theories of bribery and violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act, to the Prosecutorial Deliberation Committee, and instructed that the case be handled carefully through the deliberation process of the committee composed entirely of external civilian members."

On the 22nd, ahead of the report on the investigation results regarding First Lady Kim Geon-hee's alleged receipt of luxury bags by the Seoul Central District Prosecutor, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok arrived at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building and responded to reporters' questions as he entered the building. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office added, "The Prosecutor General reviewed the investigation results from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and evaluated that the evidence assessment and legal interpretation were thoroughly conducted. However, considering the intense public interest and ongoing exhausting controversies surrounding this case, it was decided that going through the Prosecutorial Deliberation Committee procedure to enhance fairness and to conclude the matter without leaving further disputes is desirable."

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office stated, "We plan to faithfully follow the procedures according to the Prosecutor General's decision to convene the Prosecutorial Deliberation Committee."

On the 22nd, Prosecutor General Lee received a report from Lee Chang-soo, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, stating that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by First Lady Kim regarding the allegations, and has been deliberating on the direction of handling the case and whether to convene the Prosecutorial Deliberation Committee.