SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea’s first lady, Kim Keon Hee, has been questioned regarding allegations of stock manipulation and accepting a $2,200 luxury handbag in violation of government ethics rules. The questioning took place on Saturday, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.
The “Dior bag scandal” surfaced after hidden camera footage showed Kim accepting the expensive handbag, contravening South Korean law, which limits gifts to public officials and their spouses to a value of $750. This incident has further damaged President Yoon Suk Yeol’s approval ratings and contributed to his party’s defeat in April’s general elections.
Kim’s aide claimed that the first lady intended to return the bag on the same day she received it but forgot to do so. President Yoon initially dismissed the scandal as a “political scheme” but later apologized, acknowledging his wife’s acceptance of the bag as “unwise.” This incident is not the first time Kim has faced public scrutiny, as she previously apologized for falsifying credentials during Yoon’s presidential campaign.
