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Yonhap News Agency reported on August 21 that according to news from the Korean legal community on the 21st, the South Korean prosecutors determined that Kim Gun-hee, the wife of South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol, was not a criminal suspect in the case of Kim Gun-hee being suspected of accepting brand-name bags.

It is reported that the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently reported to District Prosecutor General Lee Chang-soo that Kim Gun-hee did not violate the Anti-Corruption Act (the "Prohibition of Accepting Unfair Solicitations and Property Act").

The case handling team believes that the brand-name bag that Kim Gun-hee received from American pastor Choi Jae-young in September 2022 has nothing to do with Yoon Seok-yeol's performance of his presidential duties. As a result, the South Korean prosecutors are likely to conclude that "according to the Anti-Corruption Act, Yoon Seok-yeol has no obligation to report."

Lee Chang-soo plans to report the results of the case investigation to South Korean Prosecutor General Lee Won-ji in the near future, most likely on the 22nd when the Supreme Prosecutor's Office holds its weekly meeting.

If the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office convenes an investigation review committee meeting to hear external opinions in order to ensure fairness in handling the case, it will take time for the prosecution to reach a final conclusion and close the case. Choi Jae-young plans to request the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to convene an investigation review committee meeting on the 23rd as a person involved in the case (suspect).

South Korean online media "Voice of Seoul" once reported that Kim Gun-hee received brand-name perfumes and cosmetics from American pastor Choi Jae-young (sound) in June 2022, and received a brand-name bag worth 3 million won (about 16,000 yuan) in September of the same year. On December 19 last year, the civic group "Participation Solidarity" reported Yoon Seok-yeol, Kim Gun-hee and Choi Jae-young to the National Human Rights Commission.

On June 10, 2024, South Korea's anti-corruption agency, the National Rights Commission, decided that Kim Gun-hee had "no illegal behavior" in the report of accepting brand-name bags and closed the case.

On August 8, according to Korean media reports, Kim, a senior official in charge of anti-corruption work at the South Korean National Rights Commission, was found dead at home. He was responsible for investigating the "incident of accepting brand-name bags" by South Korean first lady Kim Gun-hee.

According to Yonhap News Agency, earlier on August 14 local time, Jeon Hyun-hee, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a hearing of the South Korean National Assembly that South Korea's "First Lady" Kim Gun-hee was a "murderer."

In response, the South Korean presidential office demanded an apology from the congressman. The spokesperson said, "Making baseless accusations and making harsh remarks is a violation of human rights and an insult to the public... We cannot help but express our regret for the despicable behavior of the opposition party, which once again used the unfortunate death of a public official to launch a political attack."

In response, the ruling Palang Pracharat party submitted a motion calling for the lawmaker to be expelled from the National Assembly, calling it an "inexcusable and inhumane accusation."

This article is an exclusive article of Observer.com and may not be reproduced without authorization.