'Dior Bag Scandal' Threatens South Korea's Ruling Party

First Lady Kim Keon Hee's acceptance of a luxury bag sparks controversy, potentially jeopardizing the People Power Party's bid for a parliamentary majority in the upcoming election.

South Korea's first lady, Kim Keon Hee, is embroiled in a scandal after hidden camera footage showed her accepting a Dior bag worth 3 million won (US$2,250), potentially violating an anti-bribery law.
The scandal, dubbed the 'Dior bag scandal', has caused a rift within President Yoon Suk Yeol's conservative People Power Party (PPP), with some members urging the president and his wife to apologize.
President Yoon, who won a close election in 2022, is facing a parliamentary election in April, and the scandal could cost his party the majority.
The footage was secretly recorded by a Korean American pastor, Reverand Abraham Choi, who claims he gave the bag to secure a meeting with Kim.
Public opinion polls show that a majority of South Koreans believe Kim acted inappropriately and want President Yoon to address the issue.