"Gold Turtle, Luxury Watch, and Bag Were All 'Quid Pro Quo for Favors'"

[Anchor]

We will now examine the gold turtle, luxury watch, and handbag that Kim Keon-hee received around the time of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration. The court ruled that Kim was aware these items were given in exchange for favors, finding her guilty on all counts.

Reporter Shin Yong-il has the story.

[Reporter]

Just about two weeks before former President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration, Kim Keon-hee received a gold turtle worth 2.1 million won from Lee Bae-yong at her Covana Contents office.

While Kim's side argued that it was a gift for the purpose of maintaining a personal relationship, the court concluded that the gold turtle was provided under the pretext of soliciting influence over the president's personnel appointments, and that Kim received it knowing it was a quid pro quo for such favors.

The court also determined that the replica of Sehando, received one month after the gold turtle, was sent by Lee again for the purpose of soliciting a personnel appointment, and that Kim was fully aware of its nature as a reward.

[Cho Soon-pyo / Presiding Judge, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 21: (Lee Bae-yong) discussed the position of Chairperson of the National Education Committee while expressing a desire to contribute to the education sector, and the defendant Kim Keon-hee responded to the effect that she understood.]

The Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth approximately 39 million won, received from robot dog businessman Seo Seong-bin, was also ruled as a bribe given in exchange for business support, leading to a guilty verdict.

The court rejected the argument from Kim's side that it was merely a purchase agency service.

[Cho Soon-pyo / Presiding Judge, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 21: It is reasonable to conclude that the defendant Kim Keon-hee was at least implicitly aware that the watch was not a simple social gift, but was provided with expectations related to the robot dog business.]

The court further judged that items such as the Dior bag, which Pastor Choi Jae-young handed to Kim at her office, also constituted solicitation for influence over the president's personnel authority.

Chairperson Lee and Seo, who provided the gifts to Kim, were sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for two years, while Pastor Choi was fined 8 million won.

(Video reporting: Yang Hyun-chul, Video editing: Choi Hye-young, Design: Han Heung-soo)

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