Corruption Investigation Office: "Legal review of the complaint against Myeong Tae-gyun... Received prosecution data on 'Mrs. Kim's luxury bag'"

PCC "Plans to Review Some Prosecution Investigation Materials on 'Kim Yeo-sa Luxury Bag'"

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) stated that it is continuing its legal review of the accusation case involving Myung Tae-gyun and allegations of interference in candidate selection. It also mentioned that it has received some investigation materials from the prosecution regarding the luxury handbag incident involving Kim Geon-hee, the spouse of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

An HCIA official said on the 29th that the accusation case related to political broker Myung and allegations of interference in candidate selection by President Yoon and his spouse is “under continuous legal review due to ongoing related reports and various issues,” adding, “No conclusion has been reached yet.” Regarding this case, HCIA Chief Oh Dong-woon had previously stated in the National Assembly last month that “we will review it in relation to violations of the Political Funds Act.”

He also said, “Some of the materials requested from the prosecution (related to the luxury handbag incident involving Mrs. Kim) arrived last week,” but “we have not yet begun a full review.” The HCIA official added, “It is difficult to specify exactly what materials have arrived,” and “We are waiting for responses or records regarding the remaining materials that have not yet been received.”

On the 7th, the HCIA requested materials such as the non-prosecution decision document and record lists related to Mrs. Kim’s luxury handbag case from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and this is a partial response to that request. Earlier, the Innovation Party led by Cho Guk had accused Mrs. Kim to the HCIA in June, stating that “if Mrs. Kim received luxury goods as a bribe and instructed her secretaries to review the contents of the request, it constitutes bribery and abuse of authority.”

Regarding the controversy over the “instability of status” that arose because the reappointment approval of four prosecutors, including Lee Dae-hwan, head of the 4th Investigation Division, was only made on the 25th, two days before their term expired, the HCIA official said, “This is an issue that requires some legal amendments,” but added, “It is a matter for the National Assembly to discuss.”