News outlet appeals prosecution’s decision not to charge first lady over luxury bag scandal

An online news outlet on Monday appealed the prosecution's recent decision not to charge first lady Kim Keon Hee over her acceptance of a luxury bag from a Korean American pastor in 2022. Baek Eun-jong, head of Voice of Seoul, filed the appeal with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, urging the prosecution to reverse its decision and indict President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife for trial. Following a monthslong investigation into allegations that the first lady illegally received a Dior handbag worth 3 million won (US$2,227) and other expensive items from the pastor at her office in 2022, the district prosecutors announced a decision not to charge her last week. Korean American pastor Choi Jae-young secretly filmed the meeting with a hidden camera, and the video was later published by the online news outlet Voice of Seoul, whose head subsequently filed a complaint against the presidential couple for bribery. At a press conference, Baek accused prosecutors of "legal manipulation" to drop charges against Kim, claiming that a reinvestigation should be conducted to indict the presidential couple. The appeal is expected to compel the Seoul High Prosecutors Office to review whether the district office's decision was appropriate, although many predict that it is unlikely to reverse the decision. Source: Yonhap News Agency