South Korean First Lady's Gift Scandal Threatens Conservative Government Ahead of Elections

President Yoon Suk Yeol faces public pressure to address allegations of corruption involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee, as national assembly elections approach.

• South Korea's First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, is embroiled in a scandal after being secretly filmed accepting a Dior handbag, valued at $2,240, from Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young.
• Choi, who advocates for unification with North Korea, claims he was motivated to expose alleged corruption within the government and used a spy camera to record their meeting.
• The incident has caused a political crisis in South Korea, with the ruling conservative government facing backlash and accusations of corruption ahead of the upcoming national assembly elections.
• President Yoon Suk Yeol is under pressure to address the controversy, with polls indicating that a majority of respondents believe he should clarify his position.
• Legal repercussions are unclear as anti-graft laws prohibit a public official's spouse from receiving gifts worth more than 1 million won ($748) in one sitting, but this must be 'in connection with the duties of the public official.'

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