Archive · 28 Jan 2026
South Korea Jails Ex-First Lady for Bribery
A court in South Korea has sentenced the former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, to 20 months in jail.
She was found guilty of accepting expensive gifts, like luxury bags and a diamond necklace, from officials of the Unification Church.
The court said these gifts were given in exchange for political favors.
Kim denied all the charges, and her lawyer said they might appeal the decision.
Her husband, the former president, is also in trouble and facing multiple trials.
The court cleared Kim of some other charges, like manipulating stock prices, because there wasn't enough evidence.
The ruling can be appealed by either side.
South Korea's Seoul Central District Court sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in jail for accepting bribes from Unification Church officials.
Kim was found guilty of receiving luxury gifts in exchange for political favors, but cleared of charges related to stock price manipulation and violating political funding laws due to insufficient evidence.
Prosecutors had demanded a 15-year prison term and fines of 2.9 billion won ($2 million) for Kim, but the court fined her 12.8 million won ($8,990) and ordered the confiscation of the necklace.
Kim's lawyer stated they would review the ruling and decide whether to appeal the bribery conviction, while prosecutors will appeal against the not-guilty verdicts on other charges.
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim's husband, is facing eight trials, including charges of insurrection and obstruction of justice, and has been sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing justice.
- Who
- Kim Keon Hee, former first lady of South Korea, and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol
- What
- Sentencing for accepting bribes from Unification Church officials
- When
- Wednesday, January 28, 2024
- Where
- Seoul Central District Court, South Korea
- Why
- To address charges of accepting bribes in return for political favors
- Defendant
- Kim Keon Hee (former first lady of South Korea)
- Charges
- Accepting bribes from Unification Church officials
- Sentence
- 20 months in jail
- Requested Sentence
- 15 years in prison and fines of 2.9 billion won ($2 million)
- Court
- Seoul Central District Court
- Ruling Date
- Wednesday, January 28, 2024
- Alleged Bribes
- Luxury Chanel bags and a diamond necklace
- Husband's Status
- Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, facing eight trials including insurrection
Sources
South Korea: Court allows live broadcast of ruling on ex-first lady's corruption case
South Korea court set to rule in bribery trial of former first lady
South Korea court sentences ex-First Lady Kim to jail term for bribery
South Korea court sentences former first lady to jail term for bribery
South Korea’s former first lady sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption
South Korea ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee jailed for corruption; Husband Yoon Suk Yeol already behind bars
From luxury bags to stock manipulation: What led to former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee's imprisonment
South Korea court jails former first lady for bribery
