South Korean President Faces Scandal Over Allegations Involving First Lady

President Yoon Suk Yeol apologizes amid accusations of influence-peddling and controversies surrounding his wife, impacting his approval ratings.

President Yoon Suk Yeol has publicly apologized for controversies involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee, including allegations of stock manipulation and accepting a luxury handbag.
The scandal involves accusations of influence-peddling in a 2022 by-election, with leaked audio suggesting Yoon's interference in candidate selection.
Yoon has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he did not engage in inappropriate actions or influence the candidate nomination process.
The opposition Democratic Party has demanded an independent investigation into the first lady's actions, while Yoon has labeled such calls as unconstitutional.
The scandal has significantly affected Yoon's approval ratings, which have fallen below 20%, as he faces additional foreign policy challenges with recent global developments.