hankyoreh

Hankyoreh graphic.

Korea’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) has concluded an inquiry into Korean first lady Kim Keon-hee’s acceptance of a luxury handbag without even questioning Choi Jae-young, the pastor who gave Kim the bag in the first place. Questioning Choi would presumably have been essential for determining whether the bag had any ties to the president’s job. The ACRC’s lack of action also contrasts starkly with the sweeping onsite investigations it carried out following reports that board members at public broadcasters had violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

The Hankyoreh learned on Tuesday that the ACRC hadn’t questioned Choi or even called him. “I haven’t been contacted a single time by the ACRC,” Choi told the Hankyoreh.

The ACRC also substituted a three-minute phone call for regular questioning of the party that filed the complaint, the most important stage in the process. It was also confirmed that neither Kim nor President Yoon Suk-yeol have been questioned either in writing or in person.

In December 2023, People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy filed a complaint with the ACRC against Yoon, Kim and Choi for violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and another complaint against Yoon for violating the civil service code of conduct. The ACRC can respond to complaints about violations of the civil service code of conduct by asking public agencies for information, carrying out a fact-finding investigation or asking interested parties, witnesses and connected public officials to provide written testimony or appear in person.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee board the presidential jet as they leave for a tour of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on June 10, 2024, from Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)

In its investigation of alleged violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by Kwon Tae-sun, the chair of the board of the Foundation for Broadcast Culture (the majority shareholder in public broadcaster MBC), and Kim Suck-hwan, another board member, the ACRC asked for various material and carried out a three-day onsite investigation there. Then it launched another onsite investigation, which also lasted several days, at the Korea Communications Standards Commission in connection with allegations that the commissioners had violated the Conflict of Interest Act. Finally, the ACRC carried out an onsite investigation into allegations that Nam Young-jin, the former chair of the board at KBC, had violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Choi publicly claims that he asked Kim Keon-hee to arrange for Jay Kim (Korean name Kim Chang-joon), a former US congressman, to be given an advisory role in the administration and a burial plot in a national ceremony and to allow Tongil TV to resume broadcasts. Choi also says that the first lady connected him with an employee with the administrative affairs secretariat at the presidential office.

While departing with President Yoon Suk-yeol for a tour through Central Asia, first lady Kim Keon-hee was seen holding a canvas tote bag with the words “Bye bye plastic bags” written on it. (Yonhap)

If it turns out that the luxury handbag was linked to the president’s duties, it would have been Yoon’s responsibility to report the handbag. That would make it necessary to determine whether the president may have broken the law.

“Choi Jae-young, as the person who gave the handbag, ought to have been questioned since he has clearly stated he expected something in return,” said Choi Yong-moon, an attorney in charge of monitoring the executive branch for People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.

Members of People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy hold a press conference outside the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission building in Seoul on June 10, 2024, where they condemn the commission’s findings of no violations in regard to Kim Keon-hee’s acceptance of a Dior handbag. (Yonhap)

By Shim Wu-sam, staff reporter

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