A luxury gift for the former first lady of South Korea. A lawmaker and his wife are put on trial

On Saturday, a special counsel team in South Korea referred Representative Kim Ji-hyun (the main opposition People’s Power Party) and his wife to trial on charges of giving a luxury gift to former First Lady Kim Geun-hye, according to the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

The team led by Special Counsel Min Jong-ki brought Representative Kim and his wife, who has the family name Lee, to court on charges of handing over a handbag by French designer Roger Vivier, worth 2.6 million won (1,760 US dollars) to Kim Geun-hee, shortly after the representative was elected head of the main opposition People’s Power Party in March 2023.

The handbag was found in the former First Lady’s home, along with a thank-you note she wrote to me, during a raid conducted by the Special Counsel’s team last month.

Rep. Kim admitted to giving the gift but denied the bribery allegations, saying it was just a matter of social niceties.