&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "South Korea ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee jailed for corruption; Husband Yoon Suk Yeol already behind bars")
South Korea's former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, on Wednesday (Jan 28) was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison after a court found her guilty of accepting bribes linked to the Unification Church. Her sentence came days after her husband and former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was jailed over actions linked to his disastrous 2024 martial law declaration. "The defendant is sentenced to one year and eight months' imprisonment," Judge Woo In-sung of the Seoul Central District Court said while delivering the verdict.
The corruption and bribery case
Kim is facing three criminal trials, and the ruling on Wednesday is the first. The sentencing was televised live. Prosecutors accused her of receiving bribes and luxury gifts worth at least 200,000 dollars from business figures and religious groups, including the Unification Church.
Investigators said the gifts included two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace, allegedly offered as part of an effort to gain influence over the president’s inner circle. Unification Church leader Han Hak ja has also been indicted and is currently on trial in connection with the case. She "stood above the law," and colluded with the religious sect to undermine "the constitutionally mandated separation of religion and state," said prosecutor Min Joong ki, warning that South Korea’s institutions had been "severely undermined" by abuses of power.
The former first lady has meanwhile been cleared of separate charges related to stock price manipulation and violations of political funding laws.
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With the sentencing, Kim and Yoon have become the first former presidential couple to both be convicted. Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison on charges arising from his martial law bid in 2024. He was removed from office last year and later sentenced to five years in prison over his role in a brief but explosive declaration of martial law in December 2024. He now faces a separate case that could still carry the death penalty.
