SEOUL, The state anti-corruption agency said Monday it has decided to close its review of a complaint over first lady Kim Keon Hee's luxury bag gift scandal, citing no clause of punishment for public officials' spouses under the anti-graft act. Last year, Voice of Seoul, a liberal YouTube-based news channel, published a video showing a Korean American pastor hand over a Dior handbag, worth 3 million won (US$2,214), to Kim during their meeting in Seoul in September 2022. In December, the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a progressive civic group, filed a corruption complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission against President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife as well as the pastor on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The anti-corruption agency said it has decided to close the review of the case raised against Kim as there are no rules on punishment for public officials' spouses under the anti-graft law. The civic group earlier accused Yoon of violati ng the law by failing to officially report his wife's receipt of the bag, urging the commission to take administrative action against him, such as imposing a fine. When it comes to complaints against Yoon and the pastor, the agency also decided to close the cases after its panel reviewed whether the receipt of the luxury bag is relevant to Yoon's official duties or the bag should be classified as presidential records. The anti-corruption commission provides services for filing public complaints and administrative appeals related to corruption cases, and refers those accused to investigative bodies for probes or administrative action, including fines. The outcome was made public hours after Yoon and Kim left for Turkmenistan, the first leg of his weeklong trip to Central Asia that will also take him to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Separately from the anti-corruption agency's conclusion, prosecutors' investigation into the case is under way. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office didn't provide its of ficial stance toward the commission's decision but said it will continue its investigation into the case in accordance with the law. In May, prosecutors questioned the pastor on charges of secretly filming his delivery of the handbag to the first lady, which had been privately purchased by a Voice of Seoul reporter and handed to the pastor. Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party said it is determined to push ahead with a special probe into the luxury bag scandal and other suspicions involving the first lady. The party condemned the commission for serving no other purpose than what it called a "handmaiden of power," saying the agency has failed to play the role of the last bastion of civil rights and public officials' integrity. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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