Hong Ik-pyo, on 'Kim Gun-hee Luxury Bag' Allegations, "First Lady Cannot Evade Responsibility"

Democrats Directly Address Kim Geon-hee's 'Luxury Bag Acceptance' Allegation
Hong Ik-pyo: "First Lady, Not an Ordinary Citizen, Cannot Evade Responsibility"
Park Ju-min: "Disrespect to the People and Lawmakers Has Gone Too Far"

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out that First Lady Kim Geon-hee "cannot avoid responsibility as the First Lady" regarding the suspicion that she received a 'luxury handbag.'

On the morning of the 30th, at a policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly, Floor Leader Hong said, "People related to the People Power Party or conservative panelists appeared on broadcasts saying 'there is no legal responsibility because it was a sting operation,'" adding, "Even if we concede 100 times that there is no legal responsibility, the legal issues need to be examined, but at the very least, I think the First Lady cannot avoid political and moral responsibility."

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 30th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He continued, "Regarding this matter, the public should be thoroughly informed, and the issues related to the luxury handbag should be fully disclosed," emphasizing again, "If it is not true, say 'it is not true'; if it is true, clarify the extent of responsibility and if there is a person responsible, apologize to the public. This is because she is not an ordinary person but the First Lady."

Park Joo-min, the senior deputy floor leader, said, "As the secretary of the National Assembly Steering Committee, I have no choice but to question the Presidential Office as the supervised institution regarding the suspicion," adding, "I asked during a meeting a few days ago, but so far there has been no explanation or response." He continued, "There are only stories from outside saying 'it will be transferred to the Presidential Archives,'" urging, "Disrespect towards the public and lawmakers has gone too far. Please provide a direct and specific explanation as soon as possible."

Earlier, a YouTube channel recently released a video showing Pastor Choi Jae-young, a Korean-American, meeting First Lady Kim Geon-hee in September last year, after President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration, and presenting her with a luxury handbag worth about 3 million won. Subsequently, the controversy over a 'sting operation' arose as it was revealed that the YouTube channel purchased and delivered the luxury handbag in the video.

The opposition parties maintain that regardless of whether it was a sting operation, it is necessary to clarify whether there was any inappropriate solicitation. On the 28th, Park Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a written briefing, "Please clarify whether the First Lady received an expensive luxury handbag from Mr. Choi, whether she returned it if she received it, or if she still possesses it, and what the position of the Presidential Office is." The Presidential Office's stance is that "there is no need to comment even on YouTube."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.