Why did the court acquit Kim Gi-hyeon but convict his wife over the gift to Kim Keon Hee?

The court found insufficient evidence that Kim Gi-hyeon and his wife had conspired to give the bag, and said it could not rule out that she delivered it without his knowledge. It nevertheless found that his wife’s gift violated the anti-graft law because of Kim Keon Hee’s position.

What sentence did the court impose on Kim Gi-hyeon’s wife in the luxury-bag case?

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Kim Gi-hyeon’s wife of violating the anti-graft law and fined her 5 million won. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team had sought a six-month prison term.

What did the special counsel allege the Roger Vivier bag was given to Kim Keon Hee in exchange for?

The special counsel accused the couple of giving Kim Keon Hee the bag in return for her support for Kim Gi-hyeon’s election as the People Power Party’s leader earlier in March 2023. The bag was given to her that month.

Court acquits PPP lawmaker over luxury gift to ex-first lady

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Summary

The Seoul Central District Court on Friday acquitted People Power Party lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon of anti-graft charges over a Roger Vivier clutch bag his wife gave former first lady Kim Keon Hee in March 2023. The court convicted his wife and fined her 5 million won. Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team had accused the couple of giving the bag in return for Kim Keon Hee’s support for Kim Gi-hyeon’s election as party leader.

Key Facts

The clutch bag was valued at 2.67 million won, or $2,000.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki’s team sought a one-year prison sentence for Kim Gi-hyeon and a six-month term for his wife.
The court said there was insufficient evidence that the couple conspired to give the bag and could not rule out that his wife delivered it without his knowledge.
The court rejected the wife’s argument that the bag was a customary gift, citing Kim Keon Hee’s position.
Kim Keon Hee previously said she had received the bag but did not remember accepting it in person.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 30, 2026 3:32 pm KST
Updated Oct 30, 2026 4:05 pm KST

Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Friday, to attend his trial on charges of violating the anti-graft law. Yonhap

A Seoul district court on Friday acquitted a lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) of anti-graft charges over a luxury bag gifted to former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

The Seoul Central District Court found Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon not guilty of violating the anti-graft law over the Roger Vivier clutch bag his wife gave to the then first lady, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in March 2023.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team had sought a one-year prison sentence for the lawmaker, accusing the couple of gifting the bag worth 2.67 million won ($2,000) in return for her support in his election as the PPP's leader earlier that month.

The court, however, convicted the lawmaker's wife of the charges, sentencing her to a fine of 5 million won. Min's team had sought a six-month prison term for Kim's wife.

The court rejected arguments by Kim's wife that the clutch bag was merely a customary gift, ruling that it constituted a violation of the anti-graft law given the former first lady's position.

It also rejected the special counsel team's argument that the couple had conspired to gift the bag, citing the lack of evidence to substantiate such an allegation and noting that it could not rule out the possibility of the lawmaker's wife delivering the bag without her husband's knowledge.

The former first lady, who has been convicted in separate corruption cases, earlier said she had received the bag but noted that she had no memory of accepting it in person.

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