South Korea's first lady, the president's beautiful wife, is going to have an accident because she received luxury bags! In South Korea, there is a group of people who specialize in bribing high-ranking politicians and filming them with spy cameras, which are subsequently exposed. The video, posted on the YouTube channel "Voice of Seoul," was reportedly secretly filmed by Pastor Choi Jae-young with a camera embedded in his watch.
Pastors often use their status to give gifts to South Korea's first lady, with video showing Pastor Choi visiting a store to buy a gray-blue calfskin bag that the receipt shows was selling for 3 million won ($2,200; £1,800). Mr. Choi then visited the First Lady's Covana Contents company in Seoul, and Ms. Kim then asked the pastor, "Why do you keep bringing me these things?"
Although the video does not show that the first lady accepted the gift, but did not express a clear refusal, and then the South Korean presidential office said that the gift was indeed accepted, but the first lady has been handed over to the state, and is currently stored in the treasury for the use of the state.
A recent poll showed that 69% of eligible voters in the country want the president to give an explanation for his wife's actions. A poll earlier in December showed that 53% of respondents felt she was acting inappropriately.
According to Article 129 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Korea, a public servant who solicits or accepts property, or accepts a promise or demands for property, in the performance of his or her duties or in violation of his or her duties, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine. If the amount of bribes accepted is huge or there are other serious circumstances, a sentence of between three and ten years imprisonment and a concurrent fine or confiscation of property is to be given.
The judicial system in South Korea is a three-tier, three-instance system, consisting of three courts: the Supreme Court, the High Court, and the District Court.3 The first instance of the crime of accepting bribes by a public servant is usually heard by the District Court, and if the person concerned is not satisfied with the judgment of the first instance, he or she may appeal to the High Court, and if he is not satisfied, he or she may file a further appeal with the Grand Court.
The Office for the Investigation of Crimes by Senior Public Officials (MIU) has also been established, an independent body responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by senior public officials and their families. The Public Prosecutor's investigation targets high-ranking public officials, such as the President, members of Congress, the President and Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Prime Minister, as well as their spouses, immediate family members and cousins of the President. The Public Prosecutor's Office has the power to prosecute directly, breaking the situation in which the prosecution has exclusive prosecutorial power.
The opposition has long accused the first lady of being involved in stock price manipulation. Earlier this month, South Korea's president vetoed a bill to investigate the allegations against his wife.
Last year, the Seoul government canceled a highway project amid allegations that the construction of the project would bring financial benefits to Ms. Kim's family by raising the price of land owned by Ms. Kim's family.
The scandal has also created a rift within Mr. Yoon's party.
