People Power Party Lawmaker Kim Kihyun Acquitted in First Trial Over Luxury Bag Gift to Keonhee; Spouse Fined 5 Million Won

People Power Party Lawmaker Kim Kihyun, who was indicted on charges of gifting a luxury bag to Keonhee in exchange for support in the party leadership election, has been found not guilty in his first trial.

While the court acknowledged that Lawmaker Kim's spouse delivered the bag to Keonhee, it ruled that the lawmaker's collusion had not been proven.

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo) acquitted Lawmaker Kim, who was put on trial for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, while sentencing his spouse, Ms. A, to a fine of 5 million won.

The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki had previously sought a one-year prison sentence for Lawmaker Kim and a six-month prison sentence for Ms. A.

The court recognized as guilty the charge that Ms. A handed a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.67 million won to Keonhee on March 17, 2023, in return for former President Yoon supporting Lawmaker Kim in the People Power Party leadership election held on March 8 of that year.

The court stated, "Ms. A provided the bag to Keonhee, the spouse of the president who could exert influence on the ruling party leadership election, in connection with the president's comprehensive duties," ruling that it met the constitutive requirements for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

The argument raised by Ms. A's side that it was merely a customary gift was not accepted.

However, the court did not recognize Lawmaker Kim's collusion, stating that it could not rule out the possibility that Ms. A delivered the bag to Keonhee directly through employees or others without her husband's involvement.

The court pointed out, "Although one can infer the possibility or scenarios that Kim Kihyun may have been involved in delivering the clutch bag to Keonhee, there is no objective evidence directly acknowledging the collusion 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.