The "Dior Bag Scandal" Is Causing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's Presidential Election Hope: Report (image@ UK in Korea)

The “Dior bag scandal” caused mayhem for South Korea’s leader. Footage from a hidden camera showing South Korea’s first lady accepting luxury designer handbag has caused President Yoon Suk Yeol worry. The issue threaten his party’s Presidential prospect which will take place in April this year.

Dubbed as the “Dior bag scandal” by the local papers, the issue has caused a slump in Yoon’s already sinking approval of ratings, while only months are left for the key April poll, in which the party hopes to win back the parliamentary majority.

Here is what happened:

A pastor named Choi Jae-young, who is known for his lean towards the left, and disapproves Yoon Suk Yoel’s strict North Korea policy, used a wristwatch and record himself of presenting first lady Kim Keon Hee with a $2,200 worth designer handbag. The latter was heard as telling, “please don’t buy an expensive item like this”.

Kim Koen Hee is a self-proclaimed animal lover, and internationally best known for her work that pushed South Korea to ban dog meat. The pastor claims that he is concerned about Kim’s influence on the administration.

The first lady was not seen about returning the bag in the footage, which was first released by a left-wing YouTube channel. The channel is known to be a critic of Yoon Suk Yoel’s government. The pastor also claimed that he presented her with expensive cosmetics as a gift during their previous meeting.

First lady accepting gift would violate the Korean law that bans officials and their spouses from accepting gifts worth more than $750. The President’s office refused AFP’s request to comment on the issue and said that the bag was being “stored in accordance with relevant regulations”.

For weeks Yoon’s party ignored the bag issue. But a member of the ruling party, Kim Kyung-yul likened the issue with French Queen Marie Antoinette, who is known for her lavish lifestyle. Several of the country’s lawmakers lined up to defend the first lady, and blamed the Pastor’s “foul intention”.

Choi Jae-young is said to have better ties with North Korea and has visited Pyongyang many times in the past, said that he decided to record his meeting with the first lady after becoming concerned over her power within the President’s office.

He claimed that the during a press conference, he has seen Kim direct the appointment of a senior finance official in a phone conversation. He said he was “appalled from seeing Kim exercise power as if she were in charge of official appointment”.

This is not the first time Kim Koen Hee has been subjected to public scrutiny. During the presidential election of her husband, she was forced to apologise over falsified credentials. She also faced accusations of stock manipulation.