A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for accepting lavish bribes from a religious sect, marking a dramatic fall for the controversial figure.
Judge Woo In-sung of the Seoul Central District Court found Kim guilty on Wednesday of corruption for receiving expensive gifts, including a Chanel handbag and a Graff necklace, from the cult-like Unification Church. The court, however, acquitted her of separate charges related to stock manipulation and campaign finance violations.
“One’s position must never become a means of pursuing private gain,” Judge Woo stated, adding that Kim had “abused her position as a means of pursuing personal gain.” Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence.
The 53-year-old former first lady, who has long been dogged by scandal, sat in court wearing a black suit, a white mask, and glasses as the verdict was delivered. She has denied all charges, calling them “deeply unjust,” but apologized in December for “causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.”
Kim’s sentencing adds to the legal turmoil surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration. Yoon is currently in custody and was sentenced earlier this month to five years in prison for crimes linked to his disastrous declaration of martial law in December 2024. His former prime minister, Han Duck-soo, received a 23-year prison term last week for aiding the suspension of civilian rule.
The bribery case against Kim, notably the 2023 “Dior bag scandal” captured on hidden camera, severely damaged Yoon’s popularity and contributed to his party’s electoral defeat in 2024. The investigation also led to the arrest of Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja.
Kim, an animal rights advocate known for campaigning against dog meat, saw her scandals frequently overshadow her husband’s political agenda during his tenure.
