Yoon's party is fighting to gain a majority in parliament in these elections. The opposition is now using the incident to attack Yoon, which, according to the Wall Street Journal, is also working because the People Power Party (PPP) is divided and divided on how to respond, the newspaper continued.
While some members apologized to First Lady Kim and called her “Marie Antoinette,” others defended her and criticized the video recording as a “spy camera trap.” A dispute is simmering between Yoon and interim party leader Han Dong Hoon over the approach. Han apologizes to the president.
IMAGO/Penta Press/Seokyong Lee The president's wife, Kim Keon Hee
Opposition demands clarification
According to the Korea Times, the conflict between the two main PPP politicians was resolved after the weekend with a view to the elections, according to the newspaper. The two appeared together on Tuesday when they visited the crash site in South Chungcheong Province to demonstrate unity to the outside world, the newspaper continued.
The opposition, however, has called on the presidential office to provide an explanation for Kim's violation of South Korea's anti-corruption law. Under the law that applies to public officials and their spouses, the per-bid limits amount to about of 690 euros, with the total amount accepted per year not exceeding 2,000 euros.
IMAGO/Newscom/Yonhap News PPP Chairman Han Dong Hoon greets President Yoon Suk Yeol while visiting the accident site on Tuesday
Scandal can cost votes
The luxurious bag was given to Kim in 2022 by Korean-American pastor Abraham Choi, who secretly filmed the handover of the bag, as the Korea Times writes. According to the WSJ, the Voice of Seoul news website, which published the video in November, has now filed a complaint with the relevant authorities and accused the first lady of bribery. A group of citizens also contacted the anti-corruption agency and called for an investigation.
Meanwhile, the presidential office remains silent, to the chagrin of parts of Yoon's party. A silence that, according to political experts, could cost the PPP votes in April and, therefore, the expected electoral success.
Han, PPP chairman of IMAGO/Newscom/Yonhap News, gives a speech
In an opinion poll published Wednesday by Embrain Public on behalf of cable news channel YTN, a total of 69 percent of 1,000 respondents of voting age agreed that Yoon should comment publicly on the scandal surrounding his wife, according to the Korea Times. However, in Yoon's ruling conservative party, polls showed a real split: 46 percent were in favor and 47 percent were against.
Pastor: Luxury goods “as a ticket”
Pastor Choi, who secretly filmed the delivery of the bags, spoke on Tuesday and described how the delivery happened. Choi has been involved in religious exchanges with North Korea and advocated cooperation with the Pyongyang government. He initially sought a meeting with Kim because he was concerned about Yoon's tough North Korea policy, Choi said in the Portal interview.
Choi meets Kim's family. Kim's reaction to a discussion about possible luxury gifts led him to believe he could use luxury products to attract her attention. “You could say they were like a ticket, a ticket to a date (with Kim),” Choi said on Tuesday.
Agreed date for delivery
After an initial meeting, he said he was concerned about Kim's role in government and worked with a reporter from the YouTube channel Voice of Seoul to film her accepting the expensive bag on a second visit. Voice of Seoul broadcasts left-wing news and comments, the pastor explained his choice through the YouTube channel.
PA/South Korea Presidential Office Chairman Yoon is involved in the case of those present
He had arranged to deliver the luxurious bag, which made him even more suspicious. “A normal person would say, 'Reverend, I can't see you if I want to do this.' But the first lady gave me the place and time,” Choi said on Tuesday.
More scandal could hit Kim
Yoon's office also declined to comment on these detailed allegations, according to Portal, the news agency said. However, an unidentified official close to the president told Korean news agency Yonhap last week, according to Portal, that Choi had deliberately contacted Kim to illegally film the gift delivery using his family connections. Gifts to the presidential couple would be treated and maintained as state property.
Another case could also affect the president's wife, Kim, and cause problems and the need for explanations for Yoon and the PPP. Accusations of share price manipulation for around twelve years could affect the presidential couple. The opposition-controlled parliament voted last month to carry out an investigation by a special prosecutor.