The prosecution on Thursday questioned two civic activists who filed complaints against a Korean American pastor who secretly filmed himself handing over a luxury Dior handbag to first lady Kim Keon Hee during their meeting in Seoul in September 2022.
The activists — Kim Soon-hwan, secretary general of the People’s Welfare Countermeasure Committee, and Hong Jeong-sik, head of a civic group named Hwalbindan — asked prosecutors earlier to investigate the pastor, named Choi Jae-young, accusing him of trespassing, obstruction of official duties, defamation and violation of the anti-graft law.
They claim that Choi intentionally approached the first lady and secretly filmed the delivery of the handbag worth 3 million won (US$2,210) allegedly prepared by Voice of Seoul, an internet news outlet. Voice of Seoul, which was once sued by the first lady for defamation, made public the video filmed by Choi in November last year.
The questioning comes after Prosecutor General Lee One-seok last week ordered the creation
of an investigation team dedicated to the allegations involving the first lady and pledged Tuesday to speedily and strictly conduct the investigation.
Hong, appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office around 2 p.m., told reporters that Choi appears to have conspired closely with Voice of Seoul to defame President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife in retaliation for the first lady’s defamation suit. Hong said he plans to file an additional complaint against Choi over allegation of his pro-North Korean activities in the past.
Separately, Voice of Seoul has filed a complaint against Yoon and the first lady on suspicions of bribery and anti-graft law violations.
Prosecutors are reportedly planning to summon Choi as a suspect and the head of Voice of Seoul as an accuser during next week.
Source: Yonhap News Agency