By Prosper Mene
South Korea’s Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for bribery. The conviction comes from her acceptance of luxury gifts from officials linked to the controversial Unification Church in exchange for political and business favors.
The 52-year-old wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty of receiving items worth approximately 80 million won (about $56,000 or ยฃ40,600), including a Graff diamond necklace, Chanel handbags, and other high-end gifts between April and July 2022. Prosecutors alleged these were provided in return for influence peddling during her husband’s presidency.
The court, led by Judge Woo In-sung, emphasized that while the role of first lady holds no formal executive power, it carries symbolic weight as a representative of the nation. “A person in such a position must not be a bad example to the public,” the judge stated in the televised verdict, noting that Kim had exploited her proximity to power for personal gain. However, the bench highlighted mitigating factors: Kim did not actively solicit the bribes and had no significant prior criminal record. She was acquitted on two other charges, stock price manipulation related to Deutsch Motors and violations of the Political Funds Actโdue to insufficient evidence.
Prosecutors from the special counsel team, led by Min Joong-ki, had sought a much harsher 15-year prison term, along with fines totaling around 2 billion won (approximately $1.4 million) and forfeiture of related gains. They described the case as a severe abuse of power that undermined South Korean institutions. The team has indicated it will appeal the verdict, particularly the lighter sentence and acquittals.
Kim, who has been detained since August 2025 over concerns she might tamper with evidence, denied all allegations throughout the trial, calling them “deeply unjust.” She admitted to receiving some items, such as Chanel bags, but claimed they were returned unused. Her legal team expressed gratitude for parts of the ruling but described the 20-month term as “relatively high” and said they would review options for an appeal.
The Unification Church, a controversial religious movement with a global following and vast business interests, denied any quid pro quo. Church leader Han Hak-ja, also on trial in related cases, has rejected claims of directing bribes.
This marks a historic low point for the former presidential couple. Yoon Suk Yeol, impeached and removed from office in early 2025 following his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power and obstructing justice. He faces additional trials, including on insurrection charges that could carry life imprisonment or even the death penalty (though South Korea has observed a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997).
The simultaneous convictions of both Yoon and Kim make them the first former South Korean presidential couple to be jailed at the same time, underscoring the dramatic fallout from the 2024 martial law crisis and ensuing scandals.
Kim’s case is not fully resolved; she faces separate upcoming trials related to allegations of recruiting Unification Church members into Yoon’s People Power Party and other influence-peddling claims.The ruling has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters of the couple rallied outside the court, while the opposition Democratic Party criticized it as too lenient, arguing it signals tolerance for elite corruption.
