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The Dior handbag has become the center of a political scandal in South Korea, with President Yoon Suk Yeol facing mounting public pressure. The hidden camera footage, released by a left-wing YouTube news channel, appeared to show the first lady accepting the luxury item as a gift from a Korean American pastor. The incident has sparked outrage and could potentially damage Yoon’s right-wing party’s chances in upcoming legislative elections.
The video, filmed in September 2022, shows first lady Kim Keon Hee accepting a blue-gray purse worth $2,250 from the pastor, Rev. Choi Jae Young. Choi is known for advocating friendlier relations with North Korea, while Yoon has taken a hard-line approach. The controversy surrounding the gift has re-emerged in recent days, dominating the country’s political landscape.
Calls for a formal probe into the allegations have been made by the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party. Bae Jong Chan, CEO of Insight K Institute, a Seoul-based think tank, believes that the public anger sparked by the first lady’s actions will impact the upcoming general election. Yoon’s disapproval rating has also risen, according to a weekly poll by Gallup Korea.
Yoon won the presidential election in 2022 but his party is in the minority in parliament, which is controlled by the rival Democratic Party. The scandal threatens to undermine Yoon’s standing and his agenda. The president’s office has claimed that the whole incident was a deliberate trap, but public anger remains high due to the video evidence showing the first lady accepting the luxury bag.
The pastor, Choi, claims that he met with Kim twice at her art exhibition company in an attempt to discuss Yoon’s policies towards North Korea. He brought Chanel cosmetics as a gift on his first visit and was surprised when Kim did not decline the gift. Choi decided to gather evidence of the first lady’s abuse of power in government affairs, rather than focusing solely on exposing the gift.
Yoon’s supporters argue that the public should consider the role of Choi and the trap he set up with the spy camera. They believe that providing a detailed explanation of the incident and addressing public concerns are crucial steps to resolve the issue. However, this is not the first time the first lady has been involved in controversy. The parliament is currently investigating her alleged involvement in stock market manipulation 12 years ago, and she has previously faced accusations of plagiarism and falsification of professional experience.
In conclusion, the scandal surrounding the Dior handbag has put President Yoon Suk Yeol in a difficult position. The video evidence of the first lady accepting the luxury gift has sparked public anger and could impact the upcoming legislative elections. Yoon’s disapproval rating has risen, and his party’s minority status in parliament leaves him vulnerable to political challenges. The president’s office has claimed that the incident was a deliberate trap, but the public remains unsatisfied. It remains to be seen how this scandal will affect Yoon’s presidency and his party’s chances in future elections..