First lady, majority of witnesses fail to attend second parliamentary hearing on Yoon impeachment

Politics

Published: 26 Jul. 2024, 18:04

First lady, majority of witnesses fail to attend second parliamentary hearing on Yoon impeachment

Pastor Choi Jae-young, who handed over a luxury Dior handbag to first lady Kim Keon Hee two years ago, attends a hearing of the legislation and judiciary committee at the National Assembly in Seoul on Friday regarding a petition for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. [YONHAP]

First lady Kim Keon Hee, her mother and a majority of witnesses failed to attend the second parliamentary hearing reviewing an online petition demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee held the hearing to review a petition urging the National Assembly to propose a bill to impeach Yoon citing five reasons, including the first lady's acceptance of a luxury bag and stock manipulation allegations.

The conservative People Power Party (PPP) argued that the first lady had no obligation to attend the hearing, claiming that the hearing itself was illegal.

The liberal Democratic Party criticized the first lady and other witnesses, including Kim's mother and presidential chief of staff Chung Jin-suk, for not appearing at the hearing without valid reasons, calling it an attempt to "conceal the truth."

Five other key witnesses, including Prosecutor General Lee One-seok, submitted written documents beforehand explaining their absences.

The first lady is accused of being involved in manipulating the stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012.

Kim also faces allegations that she illegally received a handbag worth about 3 million won ($2,175) and other expensive gifts from pastor Choi Jae-young in September 2022 in exchange for favors.

BY SEO JI-EUN, YONHAP [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]