South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption, marking another dramatic chapter in the downfall of the country’s once-powerful presidential couple.
The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday found Kim guilty of accepting luxury items, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel handbag, from the Unification Church in exchange for promises of political favors.
In delivering its televised verdict, the court emphasized the unique influence of a first lady, stating that Kim had abused her proximity to power for personal gain.
“Being closest to a president, a first lady can exert significant influence and represent the country alongside the president,” the court said. “But the defendant exploited her position to seek personal benefits.”
Through her legal team, Kim said she would “humbly accept” the ruling and apologized for causing public concern.
A Stunning Fall from Power
Kim’s sentencing comes as her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, awaits a verdict on a rebellion charge related to his failed declaration of martial law in December 2024. A conviction could carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
The couple’s political collapse followed Yoon’s controversial move to impose military rule, which triggered mass protests, parliamentary resistance, and ultimately his impeachment and removal from office. Earlier this month, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for defying arrest orders and other offenses linked to the martial law episode.
Investigators have maintained that Kim was not involved in the enforcement of the martial law decree.
Court Ruling and Legal Reactions
The 20-month prison sentence surprised many observers after independent counsel Min Joong-ki had sought a 15-year term against Kim on three charges: bribery, stock price manipulation, and violations of political funding laws.
While the court convicted her on the bribery count, it acquitted her on two other charges, citing insufficient evidence.
Min’s team said it would appeal the ruling, arguing that the sentence sends the wrong message. South Korea’s ruling liberal Democratic Party also criticized the decision, warning it could normalize abuses of power.
Kim’s lawyer, Choi Ji-woo, dismissed the investigation as politically motivated. While welcoming the acquittals, he described the prison term as “relatively high” and said the defense team would consider an appeal.
Scandals That Haunted the Presidency
Kim has been detained since August, when a court approved her arrest on concerns she could destroy evidence.
During Yoon’s presidency, she was repeatedly engulfed in scandals that eroded public trust and damaged his approval ratings. These controversies fueled speculation that Yoon’s declaration of martial law was partly intended to shield his wife from mounting legal trouble.
However, a six-month investigation led by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk concluded there was no evidence linking Kim’s legal issues to Yoon’s decision. Investigators said Yoon had planned the martial law move for more than a year to neutralize political opponents and consolidate power.
Yoon Awaits Historic Verdict
The ruling against Kim comes just weeks before the court is expected to deliver its verdict on Yoon’s rebellion charge. Prosecutors have requested the death penalty, arguing that the martial law decree amounted to an act of rebellion.
Although South Korea has not carried out executions since 1997, legal experts say Yoon is likely to face life imprisonment or a lengthy sentence if convicted.
Yoon has defended his actions, claiming the decree was a last-ditch effort to counter what he called obstruction by the opposition Democratic Party. His attempt collapsed after lawmakers, including members of his own party, defied security forces and voted down the decree inside the National Assembly.
Yoon was later arrested, impeached, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court, sealing one of the most dramatic political downfalls in South Korea’s modern history.
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