PCC “Luxury Bag Case, Direction for Final Disposition Report by Prosecution Decided”

"Decision to Report Prosecutor's Disposition Result... Difficult to Set Investigation Direction Before That"

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) stated that it will decide the direction of handling the related accusation case after observing the prosecution's final disposition of the case involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee's receipt of luxury handbags.

An HCIA official said on the 10th, "It is practically difficult for the HCIA to proceed with the investigation of Mrs. Kim's case before the prosecution's judgment," adding, "Since the prosecution's final decision has not yet been made, we plan to review the direction of handling the related case after seeing the disposition result." He further explained, "There is also the aspect that it is difficult for the HCIA to set the investigation direction without the prosecution's disposition result."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this case, HCIA Chief Oh Dong-woon stated at the National Assembly last month, "We will review whether the offense of receiving bribes through mediation is established. If the crime is actively established, we plan to investigate according to the principle," suggesting the possibility of an investigation.

Earlier, the Innovation Party led by Cho Guk filed a complaint with the HCIA in June, stating, "If Mrs. Kim received luxury goods as a reward for a request and then instructed her secretaries to review the content of the request, this constitutes the crime of receiving bribes through mediation and abuse of authority," accusing Mrs. Kim.

Regarding the investigation into allegations of external pressure in the case of Marine Corps Corporal Chae's death in the line of duty, the HCIA said, "Since there is no investigation situation revealed externally, the investigation may appear to be at a standstill, but it is in a state of 'silent movement (靜中動)'," adding, "It is absolutely not a situation where nothing is being done."

The HCIA also announced that it plans to hold a personnel committee meeting in the afternoon for four newly appointed prosecutors, including one chief prosecutor and three ordinary prosecutors. The four individuals?Chief Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan of the 4th Investigation Division, Investigation Planning Officer Cha Jeong-hyun, Prosecutor Song Young-seon of the 3rd Investigation Division, and Prosecutor Choi Moon-jung?who were approved for reappointment at last month's personnel committee, are still awaiting President Yoon Seok-yeol's approval.