Gift via "Geun-Jin Shaman" Revealed by Testimony from Unification Church's Second-in-Command
The allegations surrounding Kim Geon-hee regarding the acceptance of expensive luxury items have once again become the center of controversy. This time, it involves a diamond necklace valued at 60 million won.
It has been revealed that Yoon, the former head of the Unification Church's world headquarters, delivered this necklace as a "gift for Kim Geon-hee" to fortune-teller Jeon Seong-bae. This item is more than 20 times the price of the previously controversial Dior bag that was priced at approximately 3 million won.
The implicated necklace has sparked further debate as it resembles a piece from Van Cleef & Arpels worn by Kim during her visit to Spain for the NATO summit in June 2022. Following the controversy, it has been reported that Yoon handed another diamond necklace of a similar price range to Geun-Jin Shaman.
During the prosecutor’s investigation, Yoon admitted to delivering the necklace. However, the Geun-Jin Shaman's side claims, "We received it but lost it," asserting, "Ultimately, it was not delivered to Kim." Nevertheless, doubts about the credibility and circumstances of that statement remain unresolved.
Increased Evidence of 'Job Relevance'… Will the Anti-Corruption Law Apply?
The charges currently under investigation by the prosecutors against Geun-Jin Shaman relate to violations of the Anti-Corruption Law. According to this law, public officials or their spouses are liable if they receive more than 3 million won in valuables related to their duties annually. The value of the delivered necklace far exceeds that threshold by more than 20 times.
The prosecutors' investigation of Geun-Jin Shaman for violation of the Anti-Corruption Law
In the previous Dior bag incident, prosecutors concluded that it was merely "a gift for a meeting and has no relevance to duty," exonerating Kim. However, the circumstances are different in this case. Yoon, who delivered the necklace, explicitly stated in a media interview that he had a private meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol shortly after the presidential election.
Yoon claimed, "On March 22, I had a one-hour private meeting with the President, and I also met with government officials." It has even been reported that he mentioned the President's term, saying, "There are tasks that need to be completed by 2027." Such statements raise suspicions about whether he was concretely involved in the duties of the presidential couple.
Pressure Mounting on Ex-President Yoon's Couple… Direct Investigation of Kim Inescapable
Questions surrounding the necklace, such as whether there was reciprocity, the circumstances of its delivery, and relevance to official duties, are expanding beyond mere allegations of private gift acceptance into the realm of public accountability. Particularly, the potential application of the Anti-Corruption Law, along with implications for the decision-making structure within the presidential office, makes this a serious matter.
Ultimately, it has been pointed out that a direct investigation of Kim Geon-hee is unavoidable to uncover the substantive truth. Given the secured evidence and testimonies that go beyond mere allegations, attention is focused on what steps the prosecution will take next.
Image source: Photos for understanding the article / News1, News1
