Anti-corruption commission closes case on first lady's luxury bag scandal

Chung Seung-yun, vice chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, speaks during a briefing at the Government Complex in Sejong on Monday. [NEWS1]

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission closed the case regarding first lady Kim Keon Hee's luxury bag allegations, saying that there were no violations of law.

"On Dec. 19 last year, a report was received that President Yoon Suk Yeol's spouse had received goods prohibited under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act," Chung Seung-yun, vice chairperson of the commission, said in a briefing Monday. "The decision was made to close the case because there are no regulations against the spouses of public officials under the act regarding the president's spouse."

Controversy surrounding Kim mounted after YouTube channel Voice of Seoul released a video in November last year showing Kim accepting a $2,200 light blue calfskin Lady Dior pouch from a Korean American pastor named Choi Jae-young, who recorded their meeting on a wristwatch given to him by the outlet.

Choi, whom prosecutors summoned earlier this week for questioning over suspicions of graft, trespassing and obstruction of official duties, said he secretly recorded himself giving the luxury handbag to Kim in order to expose the "true character" of President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.

The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a civic group, reported Yoon, Kim and Choi to the commission on Dec. 19 last year.

Regardless of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's closing of the case, the prosecution's probe into Kim will likely proceed separately. Lee Chang-soo, the newly appointed chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office, said last month that the probe into Kim will proceed without disruption after a personnel shake-up at the office.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]