Pastor in luxury bag scandal urges prosecution to make decision in line with public expectations

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) — A Korean American pastor accused of gifting a luxury bag to first lady Kim Keon Hee urged the prosecution to comply with a recommendation from an investigation review committee that he be indicted over the scandal.

Pastor Choi Jae-young made the remarks as he appeared at the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul for questioning, a day after the prosecution’s independent investigation review committee comprising outside experts recommended his indictment.

The unexpected recommendation came as an embarrassment to the prosecution because Choi’s indictment could raise questions about the prosecution’s tentative decision not to pursue charges against the first lady over the scandal.

The Korean American pastor gifted a Dior handbag worth 3 million won (US$2,248) to Kim at her office in 2022 and secretly filmed the meeting with a hidden camera. The video was later published by an online news media last year.

The committee session was convened at Choi’s request after he filed for a review of the prosecution’s tentative decision not to indict the first lady over her bag acceptance.

The prosecution plans to finalize its decision on whether to indict the first lady and Choi in connection with the bag scandal in consideration of the panel decisions.

“The prosecution may decide not to indict me,” Choi told reporters, urging the prosecution to make a decision that meets public expectations.

“Isn’t the public’s rage boiling over regarding Kim Keon Hee now? The public does not accept issues like (her alleged) meddling in the general election … or the prosecution’s decision not to indict her in the Dior bag case,” Choi noted.

“I urge the prosecution to make its decision from the public’s standpoint, and nothing less or more than that,” he said.

He claimed that Tuesday’s panel decision recognizes President Yoon Suk Yeol’s liability for failing to declare his wife’s acceptance of gifts, calling for an investigation and punishment for the president.