HT Digital,
Seoul, Jan 25: The ‘Dior Bag’ scandal has sent shockwaves through South Korea’s political landscape, casting a shadow over President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration and the ruling People Power Party (PPP).
The controversy centers around First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who was allegedly filmed accepting a luxury Christian Dior handbag valued at 3 million won (approximately $2,200) from Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young. This incident, captured by a hidden camera embedded in Choi’s watch, took place in September 2022 but came to public attention in November 2023 when the footage was released by the left-leaning YouTube channel Voice of Seoul.
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The video shows Choi purchasing the bag and then delivering it to Kim at her company, Covana Contents. Upon receiving the bag, Kim is heard cautioning Choi against such expensive gifts. Despite this, the presidential office confirmed that the bag was received and is being managed as government property. Under South Korea’s strict anti-graft laws, public officials and their spouses are prohibited from accepting gifts exceeding 1 million won at a single occasion or more than 3 million won within a fiscal year.
This scandal has not only raised legal questions but also ethical concerns, leading to a rift within the PPP. Some members have called for an apology from the First Lady, while others view the incident as a political setup. Public opinion polls indicate that a significant majority of South Koreans—70% according to local paper Hankyoreh—want President Yoon to address the issue, which has become a focal point of public discourse ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for April.
The First Lady is no stranger to controversy, having previously faced allegations of inflating her academic credentials, plagiarism, and involvement in a stock price manipulation scandal. The ‘Dior Bag’ scandal adds to a series of challenges faced by the Yoon administration, with potential implications for the upcoming elections. As the scandal unfolds, the PPP risks losing popular support, and the opposition Democratic Party is leveraging the situation to erode the ruling party’s standing with voters.
The ‘Dior Bag’ scandal exemplifies the delicate balance of ethics and politics in South Korea, where transparency and integrity are highly valued by the electorate. With the legislative elections on the horizon, the handling of this controversy could be pivotal for the future of President Yoon’s party and leadership.
