How A Dior Handbag Became The Center Of South Korea’s Major Political Scandal

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing political turmoil, including impeachment talks, as a series of missteps threaten his career. Among these controversies is the resurfacing of a luxury Dior handbag gifted to First Lady Kim Keon Hee under suspicious circumstances, igniting a major political scandal.

The incident, dating back to 2022, gained renewed attention in November 2023, escalating into a full-blown political crisis this year, according to Bloomberg. While prosecutors have cleared Kim of any criminal wrongdoing, opposition parties allege the Dior bag was a bribe and are calling for an independent investigation.

Both President Yoon and Kim have denied the allegations, claiming the controversy is part of a deliberate effort to discredit them. “It will be important to draw a clearer line to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” Yoon stated, emphasizing the need for better boundaries.

The controversy originated from a video secretly recorded by pastor Choi Jae-young, a critic of Yoon’s tough stance on North Korea. Choi filmed the video using a camera hidden in a watch, showing him delivering a 3 million won ($2,250) Dior handbag to Kim at her planning firm’s office. In the footage, Kim can be heard saying, “Why do you keep bringing these?” and later adding, “Never buy something expensive like this.”

The video surfaced a year later on a left-leaning political site known for opposing Yoon’s policies. It rekindled memories of past “pay-to-play” scandals, where political access was allegedly traded for personal benefits. Public debate quickly shifted to whether Kim’s actions invited scrutiny or if she was unfairly targeted for her increased public visibility.

In July 2024, Kim was questioned for 12 hours by prosecutors. Her lawyer later told Yonhap News that she “responded in a sincere manner and told the truth.” Ultimately, prosecutors found no evidence of favors exchanged for the gift. Yoon attributed the incident to his wife’s inability to sever ties with Choi, the pastor at the center of the controversy.

The case has become a symbol of the challenges facing Yoon’s presidency, as he struggles to regain public trust amidst accusations and political pressure.