Prosecutors have sought a one-year prison term for Kim Gi-hyeon, a lawmaker of the People Power Party, who stands trial on charges of giving a luxury handbag to former first lady Kim Keon-hee in return for winning his party's leadership race.
At the final hearing on the 28th before the 22nd criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Senior Judge Cho Hyung-woo, the team led by Special Counsel Min Joong-ki asked the court to "impose a one-year prison term and confiscate the Roger Vivier bag." Kim faces charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The special counsel sought a six-month prison term for the lawmaker's spouse, identified only by the surname Lee, who was indicted on the same charge.
The special counsel argued that the couple's conduct should not be seen as an ordinary gift arising from personal ties, but as an offense in which power and official duties were intertwined.
"The president's spouse intervened in the party leadership race, meaning the nation's highest authority was used on behalf of a particular candidate, and Kim became party leader on the basis of that improper support," the special counsel said. "Kim presented luxury goods worth 2.6 million won as a gesture of thanks, and this cannot be regarded as an ordinary gift exchanged between people with personal ties."
The couple was indicted on charges of giving Kim Keon-hee a Roger Vivier clutch bag on March 17, 2023. The special counsel concluded that the bag was presented in connection with the president's official duties and applied the anti-graft law. Kim's side acknowledges that his spouse gave the bag but maintains that no improper solicitation was involved.
