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Two-thirds disapprove of president's defense in Dior bag scandal

Published: 14 Feb. 2024, 17:21

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, during an interview with the public broadcaster KBS, which was prerecorded before its official airing on Feb. 7. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

Two-thirds of respondents in a recent poll were less than impressed with President Yoon Suk Yeol's defense of first lady Kim Keon Hee's acceptance of a $2,000 Christian Dior handbag.

Yoon expresses 'regret' about handbag scandal, but no apology

According to a Meta Voice survey released Tuesday, 67 percent of the 1,004 respondents above 18 disapproved of President Yoon's explanation during his televised interview with public broadcaster KBS on Feb.7.

"If there is a problem, it was that she wasn't able to cut him off cold-heartedly, which is regrettable," Yoon said in a 100-minute KBS interview, which was prerecorded.

"It is very difficult for the president or the president's wife to treat anyone harshly," Yoon said, describing the situation as a premeditated covert camera operation aimed at manipulating the public ahead of the April 10 election.

Yoon noted that the pastor had deliberately approached his wife, allegedly flaunting a relationship with her late father, who had passed away when she was in middle school.

A Korean American pastor, Choi Jae-young, collaborating with the liberal YouTube channel Voice of Seoul, handed over the Christian Dior handbag while capturing the entire exchange with a hidden camera embedded in his wristwatch.

Voice of Seoul had procured the luxury bag before the encounter.

Despite the video being recorded in September 2022, it was only recently unveiled to the public.

This wasn't the first interaction between the first lady and Voice of Seoul, as the channel had previously released phone conversations with Kim when Yoon was campaigning for the presidential election in 2022.

In the survey, 32 percent of respondents called for an investigation, while 22 percent recommended that the first lady publicly apologize and explain the situation.

Only 18 percent believed no further response was necessary regarding the issue.

JTBC commissioned the survey.

The controversy surrounding the first lady appears to have had minimal impact on the PPP, as 34 percent stated they would vote for the party if the election were held tomorrow, nearly on par with the Democratic Party's 35 percent.

The New Reform Party, led by former PPP leader Lee Jun-seok, and the DP, led by Lee Nak-yon, garnered 6 percent support, while an additional 6 percent indicated that they would not vote for any of the existing parties.

In the survey, 57 percent indicated that the New Reform Party, officially launched on Sunday, will not impact the election, while 39 percent answered that it will.

BY LEE HAY-JUNE, LEE HO-JEONG [[email protected]]