A political scandal has erupted in South Korea over a luxury handbag gifted to the country’s first lady, causing turmoil in the ruling party ahead of parliamentary elections, Financial Times reports.
The scandal involves Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, receiving a Christian Dior bag worth about $2,200 from a Korean-American pastor, leading to accusations of abuse of power and calls for an investigation into potential violations of anti-bribery laws.
Yoon and his wife have not publicly addressed the allegations, and their political allies accuse the YouTube channel that revealed the incident of entrapment.
Yoon’s disapproval rating has risen amid the controversy, impacting the conservative party’s chances in the upcoming elections, with opposition leaders criticizing the president’s handling of the situation.
