South Korea¡¯s former first lady, at the heart of a Dior bag scandal that shook the country¡¯s politics, appeared for questioning as part of an investigation into allegations ranging from suspected stock manipulation to bribery.
It¡¯s Kim Keon Hee¡¯s first public appearance in a criminal investigation since her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was ousted in April over a failed attempt to put the country under martial law late last year.
¡°I sincerely apologize to our people for causing concern despite being such an insignificant person,¡± Kim told reporters as she arrived at the special counsel team¡¯s office in Seoul on Wednesday. ¡°I will fully cooperate with the investigation.¡±
Kim¡¯s legal representative did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The probe was launched last month, less than a month after President Lee Jae Myung took office. Investigators are looking into a wide range of issues from allegations Kim received a luxury handbag and a necklace to suspicions that she was involved in a stock manipulation scheme between 2009 and 2012.
Public sentiment turned against Yoon¡¯s conservative government after it emerged that Kim received a Dior handbag under questionable circumstances. While the incident happened in 2022, it only came to light in November 2023, and then escalated into a political firestorm in early 2024.
Yoon suffered a major defeat in parliamentary elections later that year, weakening his position less than halfway into his single, five-year term. His presidency was eventually cut short by his impeachment, which led to a snap election in June.
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