South Korean Opposition Lawmaker Questioned in Bribery Probe

Representative Kim Gi-hyeon from South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party (PPP) was questioned on Monday as part of a special counsel investigation into bribery allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Kim appeared at the special counsel’s office in central Seoul as a suspect to address accusations regarding a luxury gift given to the former first lady two years ago. The lawmaker’s wife, surnamed Lee, is suspected of delivering a 2.6 million won (US$1,760) clutch bag to Kim shortly after Representative Kim became the PPP chairperson in March 2023. Kim was questioned about his knowledge of the gift delivery. The clutch bag, along with a thank-you letter from Lee, was found at the former first lady’s residence during a raid by the special counsel team. It is alleged that Kim collaborated with a shaman to enlist about 2,400 Unification Church members to support Representative Kim in the party leadership race, with the gift being seen as a gesture of appreciation for the support. While Representative Kim admitted to the gift delivery, he denied any involvement in bribery, stating it was a gesture of social courtesy. In a separate development, South Korea’s Reform Party leader Lee Jun-seok was questioned for nearly 10 hours by a special counsel team over election meddling allegations related to former First Lady Kim Keon Hee. Lee cooperated with the investigation, providing testimony about former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The special counsel is probing allegations that Lee colluded with former President Yoon and his wife to interfere in candidate nominations for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Lee, who was the leader of the ruling People Power Party at the time, refuted the accusations.