South Korea’s political landscape is currently in upheaval as a controversy surrounding a $2,200 luxury handbag has emerged, causing divisions within President Yoon Suk-yeol’s conservative People Power Party (PPP). This scandal has the potential to jeopardize the party’s popularity ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in April, intensifying an already charged political atmosphere.
The dispute centers around a video featuring Yoon’s wife, First Lady Kim Keon-hee, allegedly receiving a Christian Dior handbag inappropriately in September 2022. Despite the video surfacing late last year, neither Yoon nor his wife have directly addressed the allegations. The lack of response has led to internal strife within the PPP, with some party members criticizing the handling of the situation. The rival Democratic Party, currently holding the majority of seats in the National Assembly, has seized upon the controversy to further undermine the PPP.
PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon, considered close to Yoon, acknowledged the handbag issue as a matter of public concern, leading to his reported departure from his post at the President’s office. Although Yoon and Han have seemingly reconciled, the “Dior bag scandal” continues to create discord within the PPP, with opponents leveraging the situation to erode public support for the party. Recent polls indicate that 70% of South Koreans want Yoon to address the issue, highlighting its significance in the public eye.
The controversial video, clandestinely shot by Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young and posted by the left-leaning YouTube media site Voice of Seoul News, captures Choi purchasing the handbag and delivering it to First Lady Kim at her office. The President’s office confirmed the receipt of the bag, asserting that it is being managed as a government property. However, under South Korea’s anti-graft law, public officials and their spouses are prohibited from receiving gifts exceeding a certain value.
Choi, defending his actions, admitted to planning and recording the exchange, claiming to expose Kim’s alleged abuse of power. The use of a secret camera has sparked a debate, with PPP lawmakers divided on whether Kim was entrapped or should apologize. Some demand an apology from the First Lady, while Yoon’s conservative supporters dismiss the video as a political stunt ahead of the elections.
First Lady Kim has a history of controversies, including apologizing for inflating her credentials during Yoon’s campaign and facing allegations of plagiarism in her academic work. The recent scandal adds to the challenges faced by the PPP, with Yoon vetoing a bill allowing an investigation into Kim’s alleged involvement in stock market manipulation. The unfolding events pose a significant threat to the PPP’s electoral prospects and raise questions about the First Lady’s controversial track record.
