Prosecutors have demanded a one-year prison sentence for People Power Party Representative Kim Kihyun, who has been indicted on charges of giving a luxury bag to Kim Keonhee in exchange for support in the ruling party's leadership election.

During the sentencing hearing held by the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Settlement Division 22 (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo), the independent counsel team led by Min Joong-ki requested the court to sentence Rep. Kim to one year in prison.

A six-month prison term was demanded for Rep. Kim's spouse, who was also indicted as an accomplice.

The independent counsel team stated, "The defendant's actions undermine public trust in public office, making the culpability heavy, and if permitted, there is concern that it would undermine the independence of party politics."

They pointed out, "The core of the crime is that the president and the spouse contributed to the election of a specific candidate in the ruling party's leadership primary," adding, "Expensive valuables were covertly handed over to Kim Keonhee to secure the duties of the ruling party leader."

The independent counsel team further criticized, "While people can make mistakes, the proper course of action is to show remorse afterward; however, the defendant was solely focused on protecting his own safety and showed no sign of sincere remorse even in the courtroom."

Rep. Kim and his wife are accused of providing a Roger Vivier clutch bag to Kim Keonhee on March 17, 2023, in return for mobilizing Unification Church members to support him in the People Power Party leadership election held on March 8 of that year.

Investigations showed that Rep. Kim's spouse delivered the bag, and the payment was drawn from Rep. Kim's parliamentary salary account.

The independent counsel team applied charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, determining that the couple had gifted the bag in connection with the president's official duties.

While acknowledging that his spouse gifted the bag, Rep. Kim has maintained that there was no illicit solicitation and that it was merely a matter of social courtesy.

He also argued that the process by which the independent counsel team seized the Roger Vivier clutch bag from Kim Keonhee's residence was unlawful.

Appearing as a witness in the trial on August 10, Kim Keonhee acknowledged receiving the Roger Vivier clutch bag from Rep. Kim's spouse.

However, she testified that she did not recall receiving it directly and later discovered it at the presidential residence.

(Photo: Yonhap News)