South Korean Court Sentences Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to Prison on Bribery Charges
A Seoul court has convicted Kim Keon Hee, wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, on bribery charges, marking the first time in South Korean history that a former presidential couple has been simultaneously jailed.
Sentencing and Convictions
The Seoul Central District Court found Kim Keon Hee guilty of bribery. Reported prison sentences vary across sources due to multiple, separate cases:
- 20 months (one source)
- Seven years (another source)
- One year and eight months (a third source)
One conviction involves accepting luxury gifts—including a Christian Dior bag and a Graff diamond necklace—from officials of the Unification Church in exchange for business favors. The court stated that Kim "misused her position to seek profit," but also noted she did not solicit the gifts or relay requests to her husband.
Acquittals and Additional Charges
Kim was acquitted of several charges, including:
- Stock price manipulation related to a BMW dealership (Deutsch Motors)
- Violations of South Korea's political funds act regarding complimentary opinion polls
- Receiving a second Chanel bag
The court cited insufficient evidence and expired statutes of limitations for some acquittals. Kim still faces additional criminal trials on other charges.
Context and Related Legal Proceedings
The sentencing follows the jailing of her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon is serving a five-year prison term for abuse of power and obstructing justice related to his failed declaration of martial law in December 2024. He is also on trial for insurrection and faces multiple other legal cases.
This marks the first time in South Korean history that a former presidential couple has been simultaneously convicted and jailed.
The leader of the Unification Church is currently on trial concerning the bribes given to Kim.
Background and Prior Controversies
Kim Keon Hee, who founded an art exhibition company before marrying Yoon in 2012, has faced multiple allegations prior to this sentencing:
- Resume Inflation: In 2021, she apologized for inflating her resume.
- Academic Plagiarism: Sookmyung Women’s University and Kookmin University revoked her master’s and doctoral degrees, respectively, due to plagiarism allegations.
- Dior Bag Incident: In late 2023, a secretly filmed video showed a Korean-American pastor presenting Kim with a luxury handbag in 2022, which violated South Korea's anti-graft law. This incident contributed to a decline in public support for President Yoon.
Next Steps
Both prosecutors and Kim's legal team have the option to appeal the rulings. Kim has consistently denied all allegations.