South Korean President Yoon Seok-yue spoke out for the first time in a talk show broadcast on February 7 about his wife Kim Gun-hee's acceptance of a designer bag. He did not apologize, insisting that this was a "political conspiracy" and that Jin Jianxi's problem was that he did not "refuse cruelly."
The Korean online media "Voice of Seoul" broadcast a video report in November 2023. The content was that when Kim Jianxi met with Pastor Choi Jae-young (transliteration) in the United States on September 13, 2022, he received a designer bag from the other party, worth approximately 3 million won. (approximately $2,260). The video was secretly shot by Choi Jae-young with his watch, and the designer bag as a gift was prepared by "Voice of Seoul".
Yin Xiyue accepted an exclusive interview with Korean Broadcasting Corporation (KBS) Channel 1 on the 4th of this month, and the program was broadcast on the evening of the 7th. According to Yin Xiyue, Cui Zaiyong deliberately approached Kim Jianxi and illegally filmed it. It was exposed more than a year after the incident, with the intention of influencing the congressional election in April this year. This was a carefully planned "political conspiracy."
South Korean President Yin Seok-yue and his wife Kim Gun-hee (data map)
Yin Seok-yue explained that although the incident occurred after he took office as president in May 2022, the couple lived in a private residence in southern Seoul at that time and had not yet moved to the Yongsan Presidential Palace. Kim Jianxi and Cui Zaiyong met at the formerās office in the basement of his private residence.
Yin Xiyue said that Cui Zaiyong claimed that he was from the same hometown as Kim Jianxi's late father, and almost came to his door and insisted on meeting. "In my opinion, it is difficult for the president or the president's wife to be indifferent to everyone."
"The problem is that she could not refuse to meet. If this is a problem, then it is somewhat regrettable." Yin Xiyue said.
Korean media previously broke the news that on September 13, 2022, Kim Jianxi accepted a Dior bag worth about 3 million won (approximately RMB 16,000) as a bribe from Choi Jae-young, a Korean pastor in the United States. Source: "The Korean National Daily"
He emphasized that it is important to strengthen effective management of the presidential office. In the future, it is necessary to further draw boundaries to ensure that this kind of thing will not happen again, so as not to cause misunderstanding, uneasiness or worry to the people.
Yonhap News Agency reported that Kim Jianxiās acceptance of designer bags put Yin Xiyue under pressure and caused Yin Xiyueās public approval rating to decline. The ruling National Power Party insisted that the matter was a "political frame-up" of Yin Xiyue and that Jin Jianxi became a "victim."
South Korea's major newspapers reported on their front pages on the 8th that Yoon Seok-yue responded to Kim Jian-hee's acceptance of a brand-name bag for the first time, pointing out that he only expressed "regret" but did not apologize. The headline of the "Korea Daily" report stated that Yin Xiyue's statement was not enough to eliminate doubts.
"This goes against the people's expectations for a sincere apology." After the interview was broadcast, Kwon Chil-seung, spokesman for the largest opposition Democratic Party, criticized: "How long will it take for the president to never admit his mistakes, never apologize to the people, and act arbitrarily?"
Source | CCTV News Client