On January 28, 2026, the Seoul Central District Court in South Korea sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to a prison term of 20 months. Kim was found guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church in exchange for political favors. Prosecutors initially sought a 15-year imprisonment and a fine of 2.9 billion won (equivalent to $2 million).
Kim, wife of the deposed President Yoon Suk Yeol, was charged with multiple offenses including bribery, stock manipulation, and breaches of political funds laws. However, the court found insufficient evidence to convict her on the charges of stock manipulation and violations of political funds laws. The bribery conviction was primarily based on her acceptance of opulent gifts such as a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from officials of the Unification Church.
The verdict handed down by the Seoul Central District Court has captivated public interest across South Korea.
Throughout the trial, Kim maintained her innocence. Through her legal team, she stated she would “humbly accept” the court’s decision and apologized for causing public concern. Her defense team, led by attorney Choi Ji-woo, is considering an appeal against the conviction. Min Joong-ki, the independent counsel who prosecuted the case, has announced intentions to appeal the sentence, aiming for the initially requested 15-year term.
Kim has been in custody since August 2025, following the court’s approval of an arrest warrant. The court justified her pretrial detention, citing potential destruction of evidence by Kim. Prosecutors claimed that Kim received gifts worth at least $200,000, including two Chanel handbags, in addition to the items explicitly mentioned in the bribery conviction.
Han Hak-ja, who is undergoing trial in relation to bribery allegations, was also implicated in the case. The Unification Church denied any quid pro quo for the gifts, insisting that the items were freely given. However, the prosecution successfully argued that the luxury items were intended to secure political favors from Kim and thereby, gain influence within the presidential administration.
This event is just a part of the dramatic downfall of South Korea’s former presidential couple. President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim’s husband, declared martial law in December 2024, sparking a political crisis that led to his impeachment and subsequent removal from office. Yoon is currently facing rebellion charges and is involved in eight separate trials related to his brief enforcement of martial law.
Yoon has already been given a five-year prison sentence for obstructing his own arrest after declaring martial law. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Yoon’s rebellion charges, making this one of the most severe cases against a former South Korean leader in recent history. Despite the couple’s intertwined political destinies, investigators determined Kim was not engaged in Yoon’s martial law enforcement.
Kim had previous brushes with controversy during her tenure as the first lady. In 2023, a scandal broke out when secret camera footage seemed to show Kim accepting a $2,200 Dior bag, which become known as the “Dior bag scandal.” This incident significantly impacted President Yoon’s approval ratings and gave his political adversaries sustained ammunition.
Collectively, these scandals applied significant pressure to the Yoon administration in the run-up to the martial law crisis.
Some political analysts in Seoul initially speculated that Yoon’s shocking decision to enforce martial law might have been driven by an attempt to shield his wife from criminal probes. However, an extensive investigation into the martial law decree led by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk, found no such motivations behind the declaration.
The court’s decision against Kim comes as it prepares to deliver its verdict on Yoon’s rebellion charges. The trial of the former president carries the potential of the death sentence, as explicitly requested by the prosecution. The gravity of charges against the couple underscores the scale of the political and legal crisis that has embroiled the former first family of South Korea.
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year prison sentence for his role in supporting the martial law declaration. Han’s extensive sentence is indicative of the judiciary’s firm stance towards those involved in the constitutional crisis of December 2024. The string of high-profile convictions has reshaped the political landscape of South Korea and affirmed its commitment to holding influential figures accountable.
The ruling can be appealed by either side, indicating that Kim’s legal battle is likely to continue through South Korea’s appellate courts for months or possibly years. With both the defense and the prosecution expressing discontent with different aspects of the verdict, appeals seem virtually certain. The case has held the attention of the South Korean public, symbolizing the dramatic reversal of fortune for the couple who once held the highest office in the country.
Kim was present in the courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court as the presiding judge delivered the verdict. The courtroom scenario posed a stark contrast to her former position as the first lady of South Korea, where she represented the nation alongside the president at official and diplomatic events. The ex-presidential couple now find themselves incarcerated separately, waiting for the conclusion of numerous criminal proceedings that will decide their ultimate fate.