Prosecutors clear South Korean First Lady in controversial case of accepting luxury bag as gift

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korean prosecutors have cleared President Yoon Suk Yeol's wife of charges stemming from her acceptance of a luxury bag as a gift two years ago, different media outlets reported on Wednesday.

A legal team handling First Lady Kim Keon Hee's case at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office (SCDPO) has concluded that anti-graft charges against her cannot be pursued.

The investigation focused on allegations that she illegally accepted a $2,255 luxury handbag from Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young in Sept. 2022.

The case also involved other expensive gifts that Pastor Choi allegedly gave Kim.

The division tasked with the case recently informed Chief Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo of their decision to drop charges against the first lady.

Lee plans to report the decision to the prosecutor general, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency.

The probe team is expected to report its findings to the top prosecutor on Thursday, the news agency said, citing officials.

The decision comes about four months after the top prosecutor directed the SCDPO to form a special investigation team for the case.

The investigation team also concluded that the bag received from Choi appears to have no bearing on President Yoon Suk Yeol's official duties.

The team reportedly considered the bag as a personal gift exchanged as an expression of gratitude, given the circumstances and Choi's alleged requests for Kim's assistance, including a favor to secure a future burial site for former Korean American US House Rep. Jay Chang Joon Kim at a national cemetery.