South Korea's president apologizes for first lady scandals and claims media has been unfairly treated

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has publicly apologized for recent scandals involving his wife but denied wrongdoing in a burgeoning influence-peddling controversy that has hurt his approval ratings.

The political storm coincides with South Korea facing a number of critical foreign policy issues, including Donald Trump’s election victory and North Korea’s reported entry into the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The latest scandal centers on allegations that Mr Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee exerted undue influence over the conservative ruling People Power Party in the selection of a 2022 midterm election candidate.

It is claimed that this was done at the request of Myung Tae-kyun, a pollster and political power broker who conducted free polls for Yoon before he became president.

a woman walks behind a man in a suit and tie — The first lady has struggled with several scandals in recent months. (Reuters: Kim Hong-Ji / swimming pool)

The scandal has been making headlines in South Korea for weeks, with Mr Myung’s leaked phone conversations reportedly showing him bragging about his influence over the presidential couple and other top officials.

Asked about ties to the power broker at a press conference on Thursday, Mr Yoon insisted he “has not done anything inappropriate” and “has nothing to hide”.

But the liberal opposition Democratic Party said Yoon’s response only showed his “arrogance” and “self-righteousness.”

The party previously demanded that Yoon apologize, reshuffle top officials and accept an independent investigation into his wife.

The first lady has faced several scandals, including spy camera footage showing her accepting a luxury Dior bag as a gift from a pastor.

Mr Yoon apologized for causing concern about him and his wife, but also stressed that many allegations were not in line with the facts.

“I believe it is not the president’s role to make excuses. All this is due to my own shortcomings and lack of virtue. “I would like to sincerely apologize to the public,” he said.

The president said his wife had made some mistakes but had also been “demonized” by “exaggerated” claims against her. This was reported by the South Korean public broadcaster KBS.

“She should have behaved with greater caution, and the fact that she has alarmed the public is undoubtedly wrong,” Yoon said. Yonhap news agency.

The president rejected calls for an independent investigation into the first lady and instead said an agency would be created to support her official duties.

Recent surveys show that Yoon’s popularity has fallen below 20 percent for the first time since his inauguration.

But some ruling party politicians have accused the Democratic Party of deliberately stepping up political attacks on Yoon and his wife in an effort to save its own embattled leader, Lee Jae-myung, from legal trouble.

Surveys show Lee is the early favorite for the 2027 presidential election to succeed Yoon.

ABC/AP