The Prosecution Review Committee has begun its meeting regarding the allegations of luxury handbag acceptance involving First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol.
On the 6th at 2 p.m., the Prosecution Review Committee convened at the Seoul Seocho-dong Supreme Prosecutors' Office to start deliberations on Kim's alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The committee will discuss whether to indict Kim in connection with the luxury handbag acceptance.
Initially, the issue centered on whether Kim violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, but the committee plans to review all allegations, including bribery solicitation, violation of the Attorney-at-Law Act, bribery acceptance, abuse of authority, and evidence tampering.
The Prosecution Review Committee system was introduced during the tenure of former Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il as part of the government's and ruling party's strong push for prosecutorial reform. It was established as a self-reform measure within the prosecution to check the prosecution's exclusive right to prosecute by listening to the opinions of ordinary citizens rather than legal experts.
The committee members will review written statements submitted by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office investigation team and Kim's defense attorneys and hear oral statements. The investigation team is expected to explain the basis for judging that the Dior bag and others received by Kim were not related to President Yoon's official duties and thus were either congratulatory gifts for inauguration or means for meetings, rather than bribes. Kim's defense attorneys will also attend the meeting to present their position.
Before the meeting, Kim's attorney Choi Ji-woo told reporters, "We will focus on demonstrating that there is no connection to official duties and no quid pro quo." Regarding the exclusion of Pastor Choi Jae-young, who gave the luxury handbag, from the committee, he said, "Since this was decided according to the committee's rules, I do not think it is problematic."
Pastor Choi reportedly did not attend after requesting an opportunity to express his opinion but receiving no response from the committee. Around noon that day, he held a press conference in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, stating, "I will wait here to be called to the committee meeting at any time to have my opinion heard," and claimed, "The prosecution conducted a biased investigation by excluding me from the verification process of the handbag's authenticity and closing the case." He added, "Kim's side is distorting and misleading the case with excuses that do not correspond to the facts," and expressed hope for an opportunity to present his opinion.
After deliberations, the committee will compile opinions and produce a recommendation. If opinions are not unanimous, a majority vote of the attending members will decide. The recommendation on whether to indict is expected to be announced late in the afternoon.
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