BRIBERY CASE: South Korea’s former first lady sentected to 20 months in jail

International

KIM Keon Hee, the 52-year-old wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for accepting bribes from the controversial Unification Church.

In addition to her prison term, the court ordered her to return a Graff diamond necklace and repay 12.85 million won in cash, a BBC report said.

The Seoul Central District Court cleared Kim of charges related to stock price manipulation and receiving advance opinion polls from a political broker before the 2022 presidential election, which her husband won.

Prosecutors had alleged she received political and business favors in exchange for gifts from the church.

Yoon, who was sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power and obstruction of justice tied to his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024, becomes the first South Korean president to be convicted alongside a first lady.

This marks the first time in South Korea’s history that a former presidential couple has been convicted.

According to a special counsel, Kim received gifts valued at 80 million won ($56,000; £40,600) between April and July 2022.

These included the diamond necklace and several Chanel handbags, given in exchange for political influence and business favors.

Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison sentence and a 2 billion won fine for all three charges, but the court imposed a lighter penalty, citing that Kim did not directly demand or solicit the bribes and had no serious criminal record.

Kim is still facing other cases, including allegations that she helped recruit Unification Church members into her husband’s conservative People Power Party and accepted gifts in return for government job appointments.

She admitted to receiving Chanel handbags but said they were later returned unused and issued a public apology during questioning in 2025, acknowledging the concern her actions caused.

The investigation into her dealings with the Unification Church also led to the arrest of church leader Han Hak-ja.(Adriane Josef E. Cabase, USJ-R Comm Intern)