Special Counsel Raids Lawmaker Kim Gi-hyun Over Luxury Bag Bribery Allegations

The special counsel team investigating first lady Kim Keon-hee conducted a raid on Thursday targeting People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gi-hyun and his wife over allegations related to the "Roger Vivier bag" bribery case, as the investigation intensifies ahead of its deadline.

The special counsel team, led by Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki, executed search and seizure warrants at lawmaker Kim's residence, his office at the National Assembly Members' Hall, and the Assembly Protection Division office at the National Assembly Secretariat. Kim was reportedly named as a co-conspirator in his wife's alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act in the warrant.

Kim's wife, identified only by her surname Lee, is suspected of delivering a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth approximately 2.6 million won ($1,800) to first lady Kim in March 2023, shortly after lawmaker Kim won the ruling party's leadership election.

The special counsel believes first lady Kim conspired with Jeon Sung-bae, known as "Geonjin Beopsa" (a Buddhist monk nickname), to help lawmaker Kim win the party leadership by recruiting approximately 2,400 Unification Church members to join the party. In exchange, the first lady allegedly promised government-level support to the church.

During a raid on former President Yoon Suk-yeol's residence on January 6, investigators secured the bag and a letter written by Lee. The letter reportedly contained a message thanking the first lady for helping with the party leadership victory.

The special counsel also identified that payment for the bag was withdrawn from lawmaker Kim's bank account on March 16, 2023, pinpointing when Lee purchased the item. Investigators believe lawmaker Kim may have been aware that his wife purchased and delivered the bag, and plan to summon him as a suspect in the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act violation case.

Lawmaker Kim denied the allegations on January 8, stating that "my wife simply delivered a gift and a note of good wishes as a social courtesy."

With the investigation period set to expire on January 28, the special counsel is focusing its efforts on examining allegations that the former presidential couple interfered in party nominations. The team plans to question former President Yoon in person on Monday.

Prior to that, the counsel will summon former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon as a witness on Saturday, and Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok as a suspect on Tuesday.

The former presidential couple is accused of receiving 58 free opinion polls from Future Korea Research Institute, a polling firm operated by "political broker" Myung Tae-kyun, between June 2021 and March 2022, and intervening in the nomination of former lawmaker Kim Young-sun. Former President Yoon also faces charges of spreading false information under the Public Official Election Act regarding controversies over first lady Kim's career history during his presidential candidacy.

The special counsel is also investigating whether former President Yoon was complicit in allegations that first lady Kim received money and valuables from Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-gwan and former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Bae-yong, along with personnel appointment solicitations. Since the first lady is not a public official, prosecutors must prove the former president's complicity to apply bribery charges.