Special Counsel Seeks 1-Year Prison Term for Rep. Kim Kihyun Over Luxury Bag Given to Kim Keonhee

[Anchor]

Rep. Kim Kihyun of the People Power Party, who was indicted on charges of handing over a luxury bag to Kim Keonhee, is facing a demand for a one-year prison term. The special counsel team pointed out that Rep. Kim rose to the position of the ruling party's leader through such support and undermined public trust in public office.

This is reporter Jang Hun-gyeong.

[Reporter]

Rep. Kim Kihyun and his spouse were sent to trial on charges of handing over a 2.67 million won Roger Vivier clutch bag to Kim Keonhee in March 2023 as a token of appreciation for support during the People Power Party leadership election.

Arriving at the final sentencing hearing yesterday, Rep. Kim repeatedly maintained his innocence.

[Kim Kihyun / Representative, People Power Party: Justice will prevail. The truth will come to light.]

However, the special counsel team demanded a one-year prison sentence for Rep. Kim and a six-month prison sentence for his spouse, while also requesting the confiscation of the bag.

The special counsel team noted, "Rep. Kim rose to the position of ruling party leader through the undue support of the president and the president's spouse, and stealthily handed over the luxury bag to repay a political debt."

They further pointed out, "Rep. Kim's actions shattered public trust in public office, and allowing this to pass risks undermining the independence of party politics."

They also criticized the couple, stating that they "shirked responsibility and maintained an arrogant silence even in court."

In response, Rep. Kim's side denied the charges, stating, "Both the gift and the letter were under the name of the spouse, not Rep. Kim," and "There was no gift intended for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, so it cannot be viewed as a token of appreciation for election support."

They also argued that the special counsel investigation failed to identify the intermediary who delivered the bag or the location of the delivery. Rep. Kim denied the charge of conspiracy with his wife, stating, "My wife and I separate our financial domains and do not interfere with each other."

Rep. Kim's spouse likewise stated, "It is true that I handed the gift to Kim, but it was done out of pure intentions unrelated to the party leadership election."

The first-instance sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 30.

(Video by: Kim Seung-tae | Video Editing by: Jeon Min-gyu)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.