South Korean prosecutors are under pressure to decide whether to indict First Lady Kim Kun-hee over allegations of corruption and bribery. The prosecution team initially recommended not indicting Kim, but an external review committee recommended indicting her and Pastor Jae-young Choi, who allegedly gave her luxury gifts. The decision is expected to have significant implications for President Yoon Suk-yeol and his administration. Public opinion is largely in favor of indicting Kim, with 65% of respondents in a survey supporting a special prosecutor's law for her. The opposition party has launched an all-out attack on the prosecution, accusing them of being too lenient on Kim.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The prosecution investigation team is sticking to its intention not to send First Lady Kim Kun-hee to trial.
2. Prosecutor General Shin Moo-jang was briefed on the direction of the investigation team's disposition of the case.
3. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission closed the case of Ms. Kim receiving luxury bags.
4. A non-standing member of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission resigned in protest of the decision.
5. The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy secured new evidence and reported the suspicion of Mrs. Kim receiving luxury bags to the authorities.
6. A survey conducted by Embrain Public K-Stat Research Korea found that 65% of respondents were in favor of the Special Prosecution Act for Ms. Kim Kun-hee.
7. The President's Office effectively nailed down the veto policy, saying it was an unconstitutional law.
8. The Democratic Party's opposition party supported public opinion and pressured the President to accept the special law.
9. Former lawmaker Kim Young-seon and Mr. Myeong-tae are known to have been involved in the suspicion of first lady Kim Kun-hee's interference in the nomination.
10. Lee Si-si, a close associate of former People's Representative Kim Young-seon, will appear at the National Assembly audit next month.
11. The prosecution's investigation team's conclusion was overturned by the Investigation Review Committee, which recommended indictment of Pastor Jae-young Choi for violating the Anti-Graft and Graft Act.
12. The prosecution did not believe that Pastor Choi's request was related to the president's duties.
13. If job-relatedness is recognized, President Yoon Seok-yeol, a public official, also becomes criminally responsible.
14. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission states that if a spouse receives prohibited money or valuables, he or she may be punished for violating the Attorney-at-Law Act or acting as a mediator.
15. The prosecution referred to the decision of two investigation deliberations and announced that it would handle the cases in accordance with the evidence and law based on the results of the investigation.
16. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik said it is difficult for the National Assembly to ignore the deepening suspicions.
17. Prime Minister Han Deok-soo hinted at where his veto will go, and President Yoon is expected to send the Special Prosecutor Act on First Lady Kim Geon back to the National Assembly next week.
18. The opposition party launched a fierce offensive, raising suspicions about Mrs. Kim's past life and nomination.
19. Former administrator Kim Dae-nam said he was only a primary candidate at the time and did not know about the nomination, and took legal action against the Seoul Voice.
20. Former lawmaker Kim Young-seon contacted the media and explained that he should pay back the money he borrowed.
21. The prosecution is checking how the money was spent and its authenticity.
22. Rep. Kim Jeon clearly stated that he recommended the accounting manager, but he received Myeong-tae's recommendation.