South Korean media say prosecutors have questioned the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol over allegations that she illegally received a luxury handbag and other gifts.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office reportedly questioned first lady Kim Keon-hee at a government building on Saturday for about 12 hours.

Kim is reportedly suspected of illegally receiving the handbag worth some 3 million won, or about 2,150 dollars, among other gifts, from a Korean American pastor in September 2022.

Prosecutors are also believed to have questioned her over separate allegations of stock price manipulation involving an imported car dealer before Yoon took office.

Yoon apologized in May for causing concern over what he described as the "unwise conduct" of his wife.

The series of allegations involving the first lady is seen as one of the reasons for the public's growing distrust of the Yoon administration.

The opposition camp has severely criticized her, and called for an investigation by a special counsel.