South Korea’s first lady, Kim Keon-hee, is facing questioning over allegations of stock manipulation and graft involving a $2,200 luxury handbag, sparking a scandal that has impacted President Yoon Suk-yeol’s approval ratings.
Kim has been under scrutiny for accepting a Dior bag in violation of government ethics rules and her alleged role in a stock manipulation scheme. Prosecutors conducted “face-to-face questioning” of Kim as the opposition calls for a special probe into her actions.
The scandal, known as the “Dior bag scandal,” broke out after hidden camera footage showed Kim accepting the expensive handbag. President Yoon initially dismissed it as a political scheme but later apologized for his wife’s actions.
This is not the first time Kim has faced public scrutiny, having previously apologized for falsified credentials during Yoon’s presidential campaign. The scandal has impacted Yoon’s political standing, leading to a defeat for his party in recent elections.