Ex-President Yoon indicted over wife's luxury bag case

Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on anti-graft charges concerning his wife's alleged acceptance of a luxury Dior bag worth 3 million won (US$2,170) in 2022, officials announced on Thursday. This indictment adds to the growing list of criminal allegations against the detained former leader, who is currently facing multiple trials following his loss in the 2024 presidential campaign and his removal from office.

In this particular case, Yoon is accused of failing to report his former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, receiving the Dior bag from a pastor in 2022, as mandated by the anti-graft law. Initially, prosecutors decided against bringing charges in October 2024, as they deemed the case unrelated to Yoon's official duties during his presidency.

However, the latest indictment follows a June 2024 ruling by a Seoul district court that convicted Kim on charges of accepting luxury items and other valuables in exchange for favors. The case is currently under review by an appellate court. Separately, prosecutors also opted not to charge Yoon with violating election laws for allegedly making false statements about his wife's stock transactions prior to the 2022 presidential election, citing insufficient evidence to support such allegations.