South Korea’s former first lady sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption
By Associated Press, January 28, 2026A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for corruption on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, ahead of the verdict for disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law imposition a year ago.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim for receiving gifts from the Unification Church in return for business favours.
A special counsel team appointed to the case said Kim received 80m won of gifts, which include a Graff diamond necklace and several Chanel handbags, from the Unification Church between April and July 2022, in exchange for business and political favours.
The ruling was a surprise after the independent counsel called for a 15-year prison term for Kim on the charges involving bribery, stock price manipulation and political funding law violations.
The court acquitted Kim of charges of stock price manipulation and political funding law violations, citing a lack of evidence.
Kim’s defence team thanked the court for its verdict but said the 20-month prison term for bribery was “relatively high.” It said it will discuss whether to appeal.
Kim has been in jail since August, when the Seoul court approved a warrant to arrest her, citing the chance she might destroy evidence.
Days before her arrest, Kim apologised for causing public concern but still hinted that she would deny the accusations against her, portraying herself as “someone insignificant.”
The ruling against Kim was made about three weeks before the court delivers its verdict on a rebellion charge against Yoon for imposing martial law briefly in December 2024.
Another independent counsel has demanded the death sentence for Yoon.
Yoon has already been sentenced to five years in jail for abusing power and obstructing justice in relation to his failed martial law bid in 2024.
This marks the first time in South Korea’s history that a former presidential couple are convicted at the same time.
She was, however, ordered to pay back 12.85 million won, Ksh1,161,000 in cash, and the court also ordered the confiscation of the diamond necklace.
Kim has also been charged with her said involvement in a scheme to recruit Unification Church followers to the conservative People Power Party that her husband was part of, and accepting gifts in exchange for government job appointments. The court has yet to hear those cases.