SK First Lady's Dior Bag Gift Shakes Seoul Gov't

The controversy over South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee allegedly accepting a luxury bag gift has thrown its ruling People Power Party (PPP) into disarray, Kelly Ng reported for BBC News.

The video, published by left-wing YouTube channel Voice of Seoul, is reported to have been secretly filmed by pastor Choi Jae-young using a camera embedded in his watch. I Photo: Justin Tafoya, U.S. Department of State Flickr

Spy camera footage released late last year appeared to show a pastor presenting a $2,200 Christian Dior bag to her.

Some analysts say the scandal threatens the prospects of President Yoon Suk Yeol's party in April's elections. Voters want an explanation from Yoon, polls show, while the opposition has used the issue to attack him.

A recent poll showed that 69% of the country's eligible voters want an explanation from the president about his wife's actions. An earlier poll in December showed 53% of respondents believed her behavior was inappropriate.

The video, published by left-wing YouTube channel Voice of Seoul, is reported to have been secretly filmed by pastor Choi Jae-young using a camera embedded in his watch.

South Korean law makes it illegal for public officials and their spouses to receive gifts worth more than 1 million won at one go or a total of 3 million won within a fiscal year. The opposition has long accused Kim of being involved in stock price manipulation.

Earlier this month, Yoon vetoed a bill calling for his wife to be investigated over these allegations.

Last year, Seoul's government scrapped an expressway project amid allegations that its construction would financially benefit Kim's family by raising the prices of land.

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