The wife of South Korea’s ousted former president, Kim Keon Hee, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after a court found her guilty of accepting bribes from the controversial Unification Church, in a ruling that marks a historic moment in the country’s political and judicial landscape.
On Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court held that Kim, 52, abused her position as first lady by receiving expensive gifts in exchange for political and business favours.
The verdict makes her the first spouse of a South Korean president to be criminally convicted while her husband, a former head of state, is also serving a prison sentence.
Kim’s husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently serving a five-year jail term after being convicted of abuse of power and obstruction of justice linked to his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.
Delivering the judgment, presiding judge Woo In-sung said Kim had “misused her position as a means of pursuing personal gain,” stressing that individuals occupying high public office carry a heightened responsibility to avoid unethical conduct.
The judge criticised her failure to reject improper solicitations, noting that she appeared “preoccupied with self-adornment” rather than public accountability.
According to findings by a special counsel, Kim received luxury gifts valued at about 80 million won (£46,000; $56,000) from the Unification Church between April and July 2022.
The items allegedly included a Graff diamond necklace and multiple Chanel handbags, said to have been offered in exchange for access and influence within the presidency.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison sentence and a fine of 2 billion won on three charges. However, the court convicted Kim on only one count related to bribery. She was acquitted of allegations involving stock price manipulation and receiving free opinion polls from
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