Kim Ki-hyun, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who is accused of gifting a Roger Vivier bag worth around 2.6 million won to First Lady Kim Keon-hee as a reward for election support, attends the first trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd. [Yonhap News] 

Kim Ki-hyun, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who is accused of gifting a Roger Vivier bag worth around 2.6 million won to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, denied the charges at his first trial.

The Criminal Division 22 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyung-woo) held the first trial on the 22nd for the case involving violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act against lawmaker Kim and his wife, Ms. Lee.

A lawyer representing Mr. and Mrs. Kim stated, "We deny all the charges against lawmaker Kim," as was the case during the pre-trial preparation hearing.

Regarding Ms. Lee, Kim's wife, the lawyer also denied the charges, stating, "While the bag was provided through a third party, it was not related to her duties and was a gesture of goodwill."

However, when asked by the court about the identity of the third party who delivered the bag, Ms. Lee replied, "It was a long time ago, so I don't remember well."

Mr. and Mrs. Kim's side argued that Ms. Lee and lawmaker Kim could not have met on March 17, 2023, the date the special prosecutor's team identified as the time the bag was delivered, due to their schedules.

The lawyer said, "The special prosecutor's team concluded they met because Ms. Lee visited the National Assembly on the day the bag was delivered, and lawmaker Kim was also present. However, judging by the vehicle entry records and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, their movements could not have overlapped."

Furthermore, they argued that the special prosecutor's team discovered the bag while searching beyond the scope specified in the search and seizure warrant, thus deeming it illegally obtained evidence. They also argued that the case itself was not subject to investigation under the Special Prosecutor Act concerning Kim Keon-hee.

Lawmaker Kim directly stated, "The special prosecutor law concerns allegations that Mrs. Kim received money and valuables. If Mrs. Kim is not subject to punishment, then it is not subject to investigation."

The court summarized, "The key issues in this case are whether the evidence was illegally obtained and whether the provision of the bag is related to the duties concerning the party leadership election."

Addressing reporters as he arrived for the trial, Kim raised his voice, stating, "A politically biased special prosecutor is forcibly fabricating charges." He also dismissed allegations of any quid pro quo behind the exchange of the bag as "absurd."

Mr. and Mrs. Kim are accused of providing a Roger Vivier clutch bag to Mrs. Kim on March 17, 2023, as a reward for mobilizing Unification Church members to support them in the People Power Party leadership election held on March 8, 2023 (violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act).

It was investigated that Kim's wife delivered the bag, and the payment was made from Kim's severance pay account.