Seoul: Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team announced that they have secured luxury gifts provided by the Unification Church to former first lady Kim Keon Hee in 2022, allegedly in exchange for policy favors concerning church issues.
According to Yonhap News Agency, shaman Jeon Seong-bae, who is implicated in Kim's bribery allegations, voluntarily handed over a Graff necklace valued at 62.2 million won (US$43,500), along with a pair of Chanel shoes and three Chanel bags. These items, initially received and later exchanged by Kim, were presented through Jeon's lawyer to Min's team on Tuesday afternoon, as stated by assistant special counsel Park Sang-jin.
Park confirmed that the luxury gifts, immediately seized by the team, match the items given to Kim by a former Unification Church official, identified by the surname Yun, through Jeon between April and July 2022. These gifts were reportedly in exchange for Kim's intervention in policy matters concerning the church.
During a media briefing, Park stated, "We'll clarify the circumstances surrounding the delivery, return, and storage of the seized items in the relevant court trials and ask for additional witnesses."
The special counsel team had been investigating the whereabouts of the Graff necklace and Chanel bags since the onset of their inquiry but had not found concrete evidence linking the items to Kim. The items were not discovered during a raid on Kim's residence and office.
Jeon had earlier claimed to have lost the necklace and bags shortly after receiving them. However, he recently changed his testimony in court, reportedly asserting that the ultimate recipient of the luxury gifts was indeed Kim.