Prosecutors demand a four-month prison term for Pastor Choi Jae-young over allegations of gifting a Dior handbag worth 3 million won ($2,200) to First Lady Kim Keon-hee. The request came during proceedings at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on March 20.
Investigation Details
The probe targets special crimes linked to Pastor Choi’s events involving figures such as a U.S. State Department-affiliated missionary, former U.S. honorary consul Kim Chang-jun, and Im Myeong. These gatherings occurred between June 20 and September 13, 2022. Authorities allege the pastor provided the luxury bag as part of questionable transactions.
Prior investigations last year uncovered no significant asset discrepancies or embezzlement by company representatives. Still, officials summoned the pastor, the first lady, her former chief of staff Yoon Seok-yeol’s wife, and major asset holders as witnesses. A follow-up probe in July led to fresh indictments.
Prosecutors’ Position
Panel members fully verified the facts in Choi’s statement. Despite this, prosecutors argue the gift’s substantial value warrants punishment. “The pastor acknowledges all company details, but the gift’s large scale holds social significance,” they stated. “This merits recognizing the gravity of the act.”
Pastor’s Response
Choi maintains there was no intent to breach gift-receiving laws. “It deserved careful analysis and division, differing from principles applied to non-Koreans’ fears,” he said. He added, “Apply leniency considering North Korean criminal circumstances.” The pastor affirmed no changes to his statement and offered no special comments.
The case highlights ongoing scrutiny of high-profile gifts amid broader investigations into public figures.
