South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Wednesday for corruption, as her husband, ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, awaits a verdict on a rebellion charge that could carry life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Seoul Central District Court found that Kim accepted luxury gifts, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from the Unification Church in exchange for promises of political favors. The court said her position as first lady gave her significant influence over the president, which she exploited for personal gain. Kim, through her lawyers, said she would “humbly accept” the court’s judgment and apologized for causing public concern.
Kim’s sentence was lighter than the 15 years prosecutors had sought for charges including stock price manipulation, violations of political funding laws, and bribery, while she was acquitted of two other counts due to insufficient evidence. Prosecutors have vowed to appeal, and the liberal Democratic Party criticized the ruling as a sign that abuses of power may be tolerated.
Kim has been in detention since August following a court-approved arrest warrant, amid a series of scandals that undermined Yoon’s popularity and fueled political attacks from his opponents. Investigators found she was not involved in her husband’s controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024, which led to his impeachment and removal from office.
Yoon, who declared martial law in an effort to suppress political opposition, faces a rebellion charge that could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment. Experts say the court is likely to impose a lengthy prison term, given South Korea’s long-standing moratorium on executions.
During his brief martial law decree, Yoon deployed troops and police around the National Assembly, but lawmakers, including some from his own party, rejected his actions. He was subsequently impeached, arrested, and removed from office following a Constitutional Court ruling, leaving his political fate uncertain as Kim begins her prison sentence.
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