South Korea’s first lady, Kim Keon-hee, has been interrogated by prosecutors over allegations of stock manipulation and corruption involving a US$2,200 Christian Dior handbag. On July 21, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office conducted a 12-hour questioning session at a government building, marking the first time a sitting president’s spouse has been summoned for such an investigation.
Kim received a luxury Dior handbag valued at approximately 3 million won (about $2,150) and other high-priced gifts from Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young, purportedly in exchange for favors. The opposition has called for a special probe into Kim’s conduct, heightening the scrutiny surrounding her role in these controversies.
Such gifts contravene South Korean laws that limit public officials and their families from accepting items worth more than $750.
In addition to the gift allegations, Kim is also being investigated for potential involvement in a stock manipulation scheme linked to an imported car dealer prior to President Yoon’s inauguration. Kim’s legal representative, lawyer Choi Ji-woo, confirmed that she cooperated fully with the investigation and provided a detailed account of her side of the story.
The controversy, known as the “Dior bag scandal,” has further tarnished the reputation of President Yoon Suk-yeol, contributing to his party’s poor performance in the general elections in April, where it failed to regain a parliamentary majority. This scandal has negatively impacted the President’s already low approval ratings.
Kim Keon-hee’s aide, surnamed Yoo, admitted in early July that the first lady did indeed receive the Dior handbag but claimed that Kim had instructed its return on the same day. According to Yoo, the return was overlooked due to other duties, and the handbag has since remained unused at the presidential office. During her questioning, prosecutors concentrated on the circumstances surrounding the receipt of the bag and any potential solicitations by Pastor Choi.
The investigation into the luxury handbag, which began in December 2023, was sparked by a video from Voice of Seoul showing Pastor Choi presenting the bag to Kim in September 2022. The pastor secretly filmed the encounter using a camera disguised as a watch. The controversy over the handbag has been a significant factor in the growing public distrust of the Yoon administration, with the opposition demanding a special counsel probe.
She allegedly conspired with Deutsch Motors chairman Kwon Oh-soo and trader Lee Jong-ho, known as the scheme’s “control tower.” Prosecutors have focused on Kim’s involvement in these stock transactions, including her primary investor role and connections to the main conspirators.
President Yoon initially dismissed the handbag scandal as a “political scheme” and justified his wife’s actions by saying it was difficult for her to refuse the gift. However, in a rare press conference in May, Yoon acknowledged the incident as “unwise” and apologized. Kim has previously faced scrutiny during Yoon’s presidential campaign for falsified credentials, marking another controversy surrounding her.
