Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok: "Kim Geon-hee's Inappropriate Conduct Is Not Subject to Criminal Punishment"

"If I Fell Short of Public Expectations, It Is Due to My Lack of Wisdom"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok stated on the 9th regarding the investigation into the allegations of Kim Geon-hee's receipt of luxury bags, "I have given much thought to the fact that unwise conduct, inappropriate conduct, and undesirable conduct do not immediately constitute criminal liability under the law or recognition of criminal charges, and that these two issues are of different dimensions."

Earlier, the Prosecutorial Investigation Deliberation Committee (PIDC) reviewed all legal aspects, including Kim Geon-hee's alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, the Attorney-at-Law Act violation, bribery mediation, abuse of authority, evidence tampering, and bribery, and announced on the 6th that "it resolved with an opinion of non-prosecution for all charges against suspect Kim Geon-hee."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the same day, Prosecutor General Lee met with reporters on his way to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, saying, "I understand that the President also mentioned through the media that Kim Geon-hee's conduct was unwise," but added, "Therefore, the decision was made to undergo deliberation not only by the prosecution but also by external civilian experts."

Regarding criticism that the PIDC's decision of non-prosecution does not align with the public's sense of justice, Lee said, "If it fell short of the public's expectations, it is entirely due to my lack of wisdom as Prosecutor General," but added, "However, there is a need to respect the opinions of external experts."