Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Prosecutors question pastor for giving Dior bag to first lady
Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young answers questions from reporters as he arrives at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Monday. Yonhap
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The prosecution interrogated a Korean American pastor Monday regarding his gift of a luxury handbag to first lady Kim Keon Hee during their meeting in Seoul in September 2022, four months after President Yoon Suk Yeol's inauguration.
The pastor, Choi Jae-young, was summoned after activists alleged he conspired with YouTube-based media outlet Voice of Seoul to secretly film his meeting with Kim and the gifting of the Christian Dior handbag worth 3 million won ($2,192).
The media outlet released the footage last November and subsequently filed a complaint with the prosecution the following month against Kim and Yoon for allegedly accepting a bribe and violating the anti-graft law.
Choi appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office for questioning as a suspect on charges of violating the anti-graft law, trespassing and obstruction of official duties.
The pastor denied the charges, saying he had gone undercover to inform the public about the truth about the president and the first lady.
"The essence of the case is that the first lady privatized the presidential power. It all began after I witnessed Kim meddling in personnel appointments and manipulating state affairs. If she hadn't received anything, nothing would have happened," Choi told reporters.
Prosecutors grilled Choi about how and why he gifted the luxury handbag to the first lady and whether he solicited her favor.
A TV screen at a traditional market in Seoul shows President Yoon Suk Yeol's press conference, Thursday. Yonhap
The decision to open the investigation came nearly five months after the allegation was made.
The opposition bloc believes that this investigation is aimed at avoiding a special counsel investigation, which it plans to seek in the 22nd National Assembly, scheduled to open on May 30.
The issue has been a bone of political contention for nearly half a year and was one of the factors in the ruling bloc's crushing defeat in the April 10 general elections.
Legal experts say it may be difficult to charge Kim under the anti-graft law. The law prohibits a public official's spouse from receiving gifts worth more than 1 million won in one sitting, but this must be "in connection with the duties of the public official." And there is no clause about punishment for the spouse in case of violation.
In January, Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who also previously chaired the ruling People Power Party, said he would propose a bill that prevents excessive influence of the president's spouse and family in state affairs.
The president apologized last week for his wife's acceptance of the bag during a press conference to mark his second year in office. However, he objected to the opposition's push to launch a special counsel to investigate the issue.
Separately, prosecutors plan to summon Baek Eun-jong, the head of Voice of Seoul, as a complainant against Yoon and Kim on May 20.