South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is battling a tumultuous political storm, with impeachment rumors swirling and public confidence waning. Among the controversies haunting his administration is the fallout from a luxury Dior handbag gifted to First Lady Kim Keon Hee under contentious circumstances—a scandal now emblematic of deeper political strife.
While the handbag incident occurred in 2022, it resurfaced in November 2023, triggering fresh debates and accusations. Opposition parties allege the bag, valued at 3 million won (approximately ₹1.9 lakh), was a bribe, and they are demanding an independent probe despite prosecutors clearing Kim of criminal charges.
The controversy stems from a video secretly recorded by Pastor Choi Jae-young, a critic of Yoon’s hardline stance on North Korea. In the footage, Choi is seen presenting the Dior handbag to Kim at her planning firm’s office. While Kim can be heard expressing discomfort, saying, “Why do you keep bringing these? Never buy something expensive like this,” the clip has fueled public and political outcry.
Emerging on a left-leaning platform in late 2023, the video has drawn comparisons to South Korea’s infamous “pay-to-play” scandals, where individuals exploited proximity to power for personal gain. The resurfaced controversy has also led to Kim’s July questioning by prosecutors, which lasted nearly 12 hours. Her lawyer later stated that Kim had “responded sincerely and told the truth,” leading prosecutors to find no evidence of quid pro quo.
President Yoon has acknowledged the damage caused, citing his wife’s failure to sever ties with the pastor as a factor. “It will be important to draw a clearer line to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” Yoon said, attempting to calm the uproar.
The handbag scandal is one of several crises facing Yoon, including backlash over his brief imposition of martial law. Combined with accusations of governance blunders, the president’s approval ratings are in steep decline, with his opponents calling for his impeachment.
The political climate in South Korea is now at a tipping point, as public sentiment shifts against Yoon’s administration. With trust in the government eroding, Yoon’s handling of this scandal and others will determine his political survival.