Opository Tuding Presiden Korsel Tutupi Kasus Dugaan Gratifikasi Istri

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (photo: global news)

JAKARTA - The leader of the Democratic Party (DP) in opposition to the South Korean government, Lee Jae Myung, accused President Yoon Suk Yeol of interfering in the affairs of the ruling People's Power Party (PPP) and covering up allegations of wrongdoing involving first lady Kim Keon Hee.

The statement came after Yoon clashed with Han Dong Hoon who became chairman of the ruling PPP.

This dispute was sparked by accusations that in 2022 Kim would receive a luxury bag as a gift, apart from disrupting the election of the party's presidential candidate for the April election.

"The president has not only failed to communicate with the public, but is also actively involved in hiding cases around the first lady, making public interference in his party affairs, and interfering in elections," said Lee Jae Myung, quoted from Antara, Sunday.

Amid concerns that the split could cost PPP another 80-day election, Yoon and Han accidentally met at the market fire site earlier this week.

Lee Jae Myung urged Yoon to focus on dealing with issues related to people's daily lives and stay away from political affairs, while he said PPP was focused on taking populist strategies and maintaining power.

The chairman of the opposition party emphasized that allying with certain political forces or intervening in party affairs is against the law.

First Lady Kim allegedly received a Christian Dior bag worth 3 million won (Rp35 million) from a Korean-American priest in 2022.

Under South Korea's Anti-Corruption Law, public officials and their partners are prohibited from receiving gifts or promises of gifts from anyone, either directly or indirectly, if the value exceeds 1 million won (IDR 11.8 million).