The recent uproar in South Korea centers on allegations that First Lady Kim Keon Hee accepted a high-end handbag as a gift, a situation that has shaken the country’s governing People Power Party (PPP) to its core.
Surveillance-cam evidence that emerged toward the end of the previous year purportedly shows Kim being presented with a Dior purse by a clergyman.
Experts posit that this debacle could undermine President Yoon Suk Yeol’s party’s performance in the imminent April elections.
Polls indicate a public demand for President Yoon to clarify these events, while opposition forces leverage the dilemma to undermine him.
The video in contention, disseminated by the progressive YouTube outlet ‘Voice of Seoul,’ is believed to have been covertly recorded by Pastor Choi Jae-young, who used a watch-incorporated camera.
Footage seemingly documents Mr Choi acquiring the Dior item, identified as a greyish-blue calfskin satchel priced at 3 million won, or roughly $2,200. He is shown visiting Covana Contents, a Seoul-based entity owned by the first lady, where she inquires, “Why do you keep bringing me these things?”
As per domestic media, the gift transfer to the first lady took place in September 2022.
While direct evidence of Mrs. Kim receiving the handbag is not available, ‘The Korea Herald’ asserts that the presidential residence acknowledged the possession of the accessory, claiming it is now officially stored as government property.
President Yoon’s administration reportedly is gearing up to formally address the matter, according to the Yonhap News Agency, which references anonymous insiders.
A fresh survey indicates a staggering 69% of eligible voters are awaiting the president’s explanation regarding his spouse’s purported actions. A poll from December pointed to over half of the participants finding her conduct objectionable.
This controversy flared up three months before South Korea’s legislative elections and during a gradual recovery of Mr. Yoon’s previously declining approval ratings.
Seoul’s respected political analyst Rhee Jong-hoon characterizes the development as a “political bombshell,” with potential intensified risks associated with Kim Keon Hee.
In South Korea, it’s illegal for public servants and their spouses to accept gifts exceeding 1 million won at once, or more than 3 million won annually.
The opposition, specifically the Democratic Party, has pounced on the controversy to target Mr. Yoon and his governing body. Opposition leader Hong Ik-pyo criticized the government and the ruling party’s disregard for the issue, hinting that a mere apology would be insufficient to put this matter to rest.
In a striking comparison, another PPP leader, Kim Kyung-yul, likened the First Lady to the extravagant French queen Marie Antoinette, reflecting further agitation within Mr. Yoon’s own political sphere.
Kim Keon Hee has weathered multiple controversies, including prior accusations of stock price manipulation by the opposition. Despite a veto of a bill by Mr. Yoon this month that sought an inquiry into these allegations against his wife, her associations with controversy persist. The Seoul government had abandoned an expressway project amid claims that it would unjustly increase the land values owned by Mrs. Kim’s family.
These events have contributed to fissures within President Yoon’s party. In response to Han Dong-hoon, the party leader, suggesting that the first lady’s actions should be of public concern, President Yoon demanded his resignation. Although initially indicative of discord, the Korea Times indicated that Han retracted his remarks, and the alliance between him and Mr. Yoon endured within the party.
Sogang University’s political expert, Professor Kim Jae-chun, surmised that President Yoon’s initial response might inflict political damage, especially with the elections inching closer.
Han is seen within political circles as President Yoon’s mentee and a potential presidential hopeful in 2027, underscoring the delicate political balances in play amidst the unfolding scandal.