Aide says first lady ordered immediate return of controversial luxury handbag

The aide, a former employee at Kim’s art event-planning company Covana Contents who now assists the first lady at the presidential office, made the testimony during the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office's questioning on July 3.

First lady Kim Keon Hee arrives at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, on July 8. [YONHAP]

First lady Kim Keon Hee ordered the return of a luxury handbag on the same day it was given, a close aide to Kim told the prosecution.

The aide, a former employee at Kim’s art event-planning company Covana Contents who now assists the first lady at the presidential office, made the testimony during the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office's questioning on July 3.

The first lady’s luxury handbag scandal centers on allegations that Kim received a $2,200 Christian Dior pouch from a Korean American pastor, Choi Jae-young, in September 2022, allegedly to curry favor with her.

“Kim did receive the handbag from Choi but immediately ordered its return to the pastor after the encounter,” the aide, identified by her surname Yoo, was quoted as testifying to the prosecutors, according to the JoongAng Ilbo’s report, this paper’s affiliate.

However, the bag was ultimately not returned but has been kept at the presidential office.

According to the report, Kim acknowledged that the bag was not given back after a video of her receiving it was released on the left-leaning YouTube channel Voice of Seoul in November 2023. Choi filmed the video using a wristwatch with a secret camera provided by the media outlet.

As the presidential chief of staff, Chung Jin-seok, explained during a parliamentary hearing earlier in the month, the unused bag is stored at the presidential official building.

Another official at the presidential office was also called in for questioning last month by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The two officials, including Yoo, stated during questioning that Choi’s requests were never delivered to Kim.

Yoo told prosecutors that Choi asked officials to allow the burial of former Korean American U.S. House Rep. Jay Chang Joon Kim at the national cemetery, believing the request would be passed on to Kim.

However, Yoo claimed that the favor was not delivered to the first lady. Choi is known to have close ties with the former U.S. representative.

Prosecutors also summoned Choi twice, on May 13 and 31, for questioning.

Choi argues that the request must have been delivered to Kim. He also claims that Kim discussing the request itself is a violation of law as it is related to the president's official duties.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) last month closed the case regarding allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee’s luxury bag scandal, stating that there are no regulations against the spouses of public officials under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, which Kim was reported to have violated. The ACRC also revealed last week that it found no evidence that the bag was received in connection with the president's official duties.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]