Written by Lisa Murimi
South Korea’s political stage was thrust into turmoil on Wednesday as Kim Keon Hee, the country’s former first lady, stood trial in a high-profile bribery case that has become a national spectacle.
The woman who once embodied elegance at the presidential palace now faces charges that could put her behind bars, marking one of the most dramatic falls from grace in recent South Korean history.
Kim, wife of ousted ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrived at the Seoul Central District Court dressed in somber black, her silence as piercing as the flashing cameras that followed her every move.
It was her first public appearance since being arrested in August. Declining to speak, she left her legal team to deny all wrongdoing, while requesting a judge-led trial instead of facing a jury.
At the heart of the case are allegations that Kim accepted luxury gifts, including Dior and Chanel handbags, a Graff necklace, and other items worth nearly 80 million won, from religious leaders seeking influence.
Prosecutors also accuse her of stock manipulation and political meddling, claiming she arranged illicit opinion polls to tilt political outcomes.
The scandal, often dubbed the “Dior Bag Affair,” first erupted when hidden camera footage showed her receiving a luxury handbag from a pastor.
What began as whispers of impropriety soon swelled into public outrage, shaking confidence in Yoon’s presidency and ultimately fueling the crisis that led to his impeachment.
Yoon now faces his own trial on insurrection charges following his controversial declaration of martial law last year.
The fallout extends beyond the presidential couple. On Tuesday, Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja was jailed on charges of orchestrating bribes to Kim in exchange for political favors. Han has denied the claims, dismissing them as political persecution.
For South Korea, the trial is more than a courtroom drama. The outcome of Kim’s trial could reshape public trust in institutions already battered by division.
As the proceedings unfold, one question looms large: can South Korea restore faith in its leaders, or will the Dior bag scandal leave a permanent stain on its democracy?
