Special counsel grills opposition lawmaker about gift to ex-first lady

Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) appeared for questioning Monday in a special counsel investigation into bribery allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Rep. Kim arrived at the office of special counsel Min Joong-ki in central Seoul at around 1:30 p.m. as a suspect before being grilled about a luxury gift allegedly given to the former first lady two years ago. Min's team previously asked the lawmaker to appear for questioning on Dec. 16 but he reportedly refused. It appears that the two sides subsequently negotiated and set the date for his appearance. The lawmaker's wife, surnamed Lee, is suspected of delivering a Roger Vivier clutch bag worth 2.6 million won ($1,760) to Kim soon after Rep. Kim was elected the PPP chairperson in March 2023. Rep. Kim was reportedly questioned about whether he was aware of the delivery of the bag. The clutch bag was discovered at the former first lady's home, along with a thank you letter written by Lee, during the special counsel team's raid on Nov. 6. The team suspects that Kim colluded with a shaman to recru