Chanel Bag Purchase Investigation: Testimonies Shift Amid Ongoing Scrutiny

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutor's Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Park Geon-wook, is set to re-interrogate key figures involved in the alleged delivery of two Chanel bags worth approximately 10 million KRW each. This includes Jeon Seong-bae, a shaman known as 'Geonjin Beopsa,' and Yoo Kyung-ok, a close aide to Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The investigation also involves Yoon Mo, a former head of the Unification Church, who is suspected of providing luxury bags to Kim's associates in exchange for securing a public development project in Cambodia under the Yoon administration. Recently, authorities have also imposed a travel ban on Han Hak-ja, the former leader of the Unification Church, as the investigation expands.

Initially, during his first questioning on April 20, Jeon denied ever delivering bags to Kim's side. However, following a search of Chanel Korea and Yoo's residence, prosecutors uncovered evidence including bag models, serial numbers, purchase records, and documentation showing Yoo exchanged the two bags for different products at an additional cost. In a subsequent interrogation on May 17, Jeon altered his statement, claiming he had asked Yoo to exchange the bags as gifts for someone else, suggesting that both he and Yoo had exchanged bags without Kim's knowledge while working at Kobana Contents, the exhibition planning company led by Kim.

Yoo reportedly echoed Jeon's revised testimony during her own questioning on May 15. Prosecutors suspect that Jeon and Yoo are attempting to distance Kim from allegations of soliciting bribes by continuously changing their statements, which could indicate a coordinated effort to destroy evidence. They are considering securing the detention of both individuals.

In previous statements, Jeon claimed he lost a Chanel bag he received from Yoon, but later stated he had personally asked Yoo to exchange it for another product, which he lost afterward. The Chanel bags received by Yoo in April and July 2022 are valued between 10 million and 14 million KRW, with popular models including the Boy Chanel Flap Bag (10.21 million KRW) and the Classic Small Flap Bag (14.97 million KRW).

Prosecutors are particularly focused on the potential changes in Yoon's testimony. They have recently discovered evidence suggesting that Yoon may have sent expensive health supplements to the former president and his wife through Jeon. Text messages obtained by the prosecution indicate that Yoon informed Jeon in July 2022 that Kim had received the items well and that her health had improved. Jeon reportedly responded affirmatively.

The items mentioned by Yoon include 'Cheonsusam Concentrate,' a product from a Unification Church-affiliated company that claims to offer anti-aging, anti-cancer, and immune-boosting benefits. Jeon has since denied the authenticity of the text messages, asserting that Yoon had no direct contact with Kim. However, Yoon has confirmed that the concentrate was indeed delivered to Kim through Jeon, leading to discrepancies in their testimonies.

Additionally, during the investigation into Jeon's so-called 'Beopsa phone' at the end of last year, prosecutors found evidence that Yoon had given Jeon a diamond necklace worth 60 million KRW from the British luxury brand Graff, labeled as a 'gift for Kim.' Yoon later requested the necklace back, suspecting it had not been delivered to Kim as promised. Jeon reportedly told Yoon that he had lost it.

Legal experts suggest that if the exchange of luxury items is confirmed to be aimed at securing business favors, both parties could face charges of bribery. As testimonies begin to diverge, prosecutors are expected to intensify their investigation into these discrepancies.

The prosecution is currently examining whether the Chanel bags received by Yoo were part of a larger scheme involving the Unification Church, with implications of quid pro quo. On April 30, they conducted searches at Jeon's residence and the Acro Vista residence of the former president and his wife, citing five specific cases related to the Cambodia ODA project, the Unification Church's acquisition of YTN, and efforts to host the UN's Fifth Office. The Unification Church has publicly stated that Yoon's actions were personal and not connected to the organization.