Ruling party chief says Yoon’s remarks on first lady’s allegations were ‘sincere’

Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) said Thursday that President Yoon Suk Yeol's response to allegations surrounding the first lady was "sincere," yet some expressed regret over the lack of an apology. In an interview with broadcaster KBS on Wednesday, Yoon addressed accusations regarding first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged acceptance of a luxury handbag in 2022, saying that she failed to "coldheartedly reject" the gift giver. Yoon acknowledged that she could have handled the situation better but stopped short of offering an apology. He further mentioned that his office is looking into creating an office for the first lady's affairs. "I think President Yoon sincerely expressed his thoughts, including on the prevention of a recurrence," Han Dong-hoon, who heads the PPP's emergency leadership committee, told reporters after his voluntary work in Seoul ahead of the Lunar New Year's holiday. He further commented that the president's remarks will be evaluated by the public, emphasizing that it wou ld be inappropriate for him to comment on each of Yoon's statements. Tensions had earlier briefly escalated between Yoon and Han, considered one of his closest confidants since their time as prosecutors, over how to handle Kim's allegations, leading the presidential office to request that Han step down from his position. In general, other PPP lawmakers also said Yoon's remarks were sincere and served as an opportunity to be honest in front of the public amid concerns that the issue could become a liability ahead of the April 10 parliamentary elections. "While it was not enough, I think (Yoon) expressed his feelings and circumstances in his own way," Rep. Lee Yong-ho said during a radio interview. However, Kim Gyeong-yul, a reform-minded member of the PPP emergency committee who ignited debates over the handbag issue, said Yoon's response could have been better. Rep. Lee Sang-min, who joined the PPP last month after quitting the main opposition Democratic Party, also said it would have been better if Yoon had offered a direct apology. Source: Yonhap News Agency