South Korea’s first lady, Kim Keon-hee, is under investigation for stock manipulation and corruption tied to a US$2,200 luxury handbag, the prosecution revealed. The opposition is pushing for a special inquiry into the first lady for allegedly violating government ethics rules by accepting the Dior bag and her involvement in a stock manipulation scheme.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office conducted a face-to-face interrogation of Kim, following the release of hidden camera footage showing her accepting the luxury handbag, sparking the “Dior bag scandal.”
The scandal has negatively impacted President Yoon Suk-yeol‘s approval ratings and contributed to his party’s defeat in the general elections. Kim’s acceptance of the bag, in violation of Korean law, has caused public backlash, prompting Yoon to apologize and vow to improve governance.
Kim’s aide revealed that she instructed the bag to be returned promptly, but it was forgotten. Yoon initially dismissed the scandal as a political ploy, but later admitted the mistake in a press conference.
This is not the first time Kim has faced public scrutiny, as she previously apologized for misleading credentials during her husband’s presidential campaign.