A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to one year and eight months in prison for receiving Chanel bags and a diamond pendant from Unification Church officials in exchange for political favors. The court acquitted Kim, the wife of ousted former president Yoon Suk Yeol, of stock price manipulation and violating political funds laws. Prosecutors plan to appeal the not-guilty verdicts.
The ruling comes amidst a series of legal proceedings stemming from Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024 and associated scandals involving the once-powerful couple. The court emphasized that the first lady holds no formal authority in state affairs but serves as a symbolic representative of the nation.
Kim has been ordered to pay a fine of 12.8 million won and forfeit the diamond necklace. She has been in custody since August during the investigation led by a special prosecutor. Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison term but Kim was cleared of stock manipulation and political funding violations.
Kim, who denied all charges, appeared in court wearing a dark suit and a face mask. Supporters of Yoon and Kim cheered outside the court when the not-guilty verdicts were announced. The Unification Church claimed the gifts were given without expecting anything in return, with its leader, Han Hak-ja, denying any involvement in bribing Kim.
Yoon, who was removed from office last April, is facing multiple trials, including charges of insurrection following his attempt to impose martial law in December 2024. He has appealed a five-year jail sentence for impeding arrest efforts after his martial law declaration. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Yoon in a separate trial for allegedly orchestrating an insurrection. Yoon has defended his actions, stating that declaring martial law was necessary to address government obstruction by opposition parties.