Woo Jong-soo, new chief of the National Office of Investigation / Yonhap

Police have found the need to investigate an alleged stalking charge against a Korean American pastor who secretly filmed himself handing over a luxury Dior handbag to first lady Kim Keon Hee during their meeting in Seoul in September 2022, a top police official said Monday.

Woo Jong-soo, chief of the National Office of Investigation (NOI), said that police investigators are now in the stage of analyzing details of the controversial video filmed by Rev. Choi Jae-young, including its upload frequency.

Woo made the remarks after a reporter asked whether it is difficult to charge Choi with stalking at a news conference. In January, a conservative civic group filed a complaint against Choi, known as a left-wing figure, asking the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to punish him on stalking charges.

The case has since been handed over to the Seoul Seocho Police Station and questioning of the accuser has been completed.

Asked about the specific meaning of his remarks, Woo said police have yet to conclude whether the allegation constitutes stalking or not, meaning the complaint has not been dismissed.

The NOI chief also said it is too early to tell whether police will question the first lady or not. (Yonhap)