First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon Hee's Dior bag causes political scandal

The First Lady of South Korea, Kim Keon Hee, has found herself at the center of controversy after accepting a luxurious Dior bag, valued at approximately INR 2 lakh, as a gift. This has raised legal concerns in South Korea, as the country prohibits public officials and their spouses from receiving gifts exceeding 1 million won at once or totaling more than 3 million won within a year.

The costly Dior bag, with a price tag of 3 million won (equivalent to USD 2,200 or INR 1,86,811), has become a focal point of discontent, leading to repercussions within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and posing a threat to the party's standing in the upcoming April elections, including those of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The controversy gained traction when spy camera footage surfaced late last year, revealing the First Lady receiving the Dior bag as a gift from a pastor named Choi Jae-young. The video, shared by a left-wing YouTube channel, Voice of Seoul, disclosed the pastor's act of purchasing the expensive greyish-blue calfskin Dior bag and gifting it to Kim Keon Hee, all recorded via a camera embedded in his watch. The transaction, costing 3 million won, occurred in September 2022.

While the footage does not explicitly capture the First Lady accepting the bag, the Korea Herald reported that the presidential office acknowledged the receipt, asserting that the bag is "being managed and stored as a property of the government."

This revelation has sparked outrage among the South Korean public, prompting calls for an explanation from President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding his wife's acceptance of the gift. The opposition has criticized the ruling party, contending that a mere apology will not suffice. Notably, Kim Kyung-yul, a PPP leader, drew comparisons between the 51-year-old First Lady and Marie Antoinette, the infamous French Queen known for her extravagant lifestyle.


As the controversy unfolds, it casts a shadow over the political landscape in South Korea, raising questions about ethical standards, potential legal violations, and the impact on the PPP's electoral prospects.