Rep. Kim Gi-hyun Acquitted in 1st Trial Over Luxury Gift to Kim Keon-hee; Wife Fined

People Power Party Representative Kim Gi-hyun, who was indicted on charges of giving a luxury bag to Kim Keon-hee in exchange for support in the ruling party's leadership election, has been acquitted in the first trial.

The court acknowledged that Representative Kim's spouse delivered the bag to Kim Keon-hee, but ruled that it was not proven that Representative Kim conspired in the crime.

The 22nd Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo) acquitted Representative Kim, who had been put on trial on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

His spouse, A, who was indicted along with him, was sentenced to a fine of 5 million won.

Previously, the special prosecutor team led by Min Joong-ki had demanded a one-year prison sentence for Representative Kim and a six-month prison sentence for A.

The court recognized as guilty the charge that A handed over a luxury bag in exchange for former President Yoon Suk Yeol supporting Representative Kim in the People Power Party leadership election held on March 8, 2023.

The bag delivered by A to Kim Keon-hee on the 17th of the same month is a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.67 million won.

The court stated, "A provided the bag to Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of the president, in connection with the president's comprehensive duties capable of influencing the ruling party's leadership election," judging that it met the constitutive requirements for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

It also did not accept the claim by A's side that it was merely a conventional gift.

However, the court noted that it could not rule out the possibility that A delivered the bag to Kim Keon-hee directly through staff or other means without her husband's involvement.

Accordingly, the court did not recognize Representative Kim's conspiracy.

The court pointed out, "Although one can infer the possibility or scenarios that Kim Gi-hyun may have been involved in delivering the clutch bag to Kim Keon-hee, there is no objective evidence directly acknowledging conspiracy or the fact of delivery, nor does it appear in the statements of related parties."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.