Kim Keon Hee, the former South Korean First Lady, was given a 20-month prison sentence on January 28, 2026, by the Seoul Central District Court. She was found guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church in return for political favors. Despite the prosecution’s demand for a 15-year prison term and 2.9 billion won ($2 million) in fines, the court decided on a lesser sentence.
Kim, wife of the deposed President Yoon Suk Yeol, faced several charges including bribery, stock manipulation, and contravention of political funds laws. However, the court dismissed the charges of stock manipulation and political funds act violations due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The conviction was primarily based on her acceptance of lavish gifts such as a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from officials of the Unification Church.
The verdict, delivered by the Seoul Central District Court, has drawn considerable attention throughout South Korea. Kim denied all charges throughout the trial. Through her legal team led by Choi Ji-woo, Kim stated she would “humbly accept” the court’s decision and apologized for any concerns caused. Her lawyers are currently assessing the possibility of an appeal. Conversely, Min Joong-ki, the independent counsel prosecuting the case, announced his intention to appeal the sentence, seeking the full 15-year term originally requested.
Kim has been incarcerated since August 2025, after the court issued an arrest warrant. The court justified its decision to detain her before the trial due to the risk of evidence destruction. Prosecutors alleged that Kim received at least $200,000 in gifts, including two Chanel handbags, in addition to the items specifically mentioned in the bribery conviction.
This case also involved Han Hak-ja, who is currently being tried in relation to the same bribery allegations. Despite the Unification Church’s insistence that the gifts were given without any expectations, prosecutors successfully argued that the luxury items were intended to secure political favors from Kim and gain influence over the presidential administration.
The legal problems faced by Kim are just one aspect of the dramatic decline of South Korea’s former presidential couple. Her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, proclaimed martial law in December 2024, triggering a political crisis that led to his impeachment and removal from office. Yoon now faces charges of rebellion and is undergoing eight separate trials related to his brief imposition of military rule.
Yoon has already received a five-year prison sentence on charges related to obstructing his own arrest following the martial law decree. Prosecutors have requested the death penalty for Yoon in relation to the rebellion charges, marking one of the most serious cases faced by a former South Korean head of state in recent history. Despite the couple’s intertwined political destinies, investigators confirmed that Kim was not involved in Yoon’s enforcement of martial law.
During Kim’s tenure as the first lady, she was embroiled in another scandal in 2023 when a hidden camera appeared to show her accepting a $2,200 Dior bag, an incident dubbed the “Dior bag scandal.” This controversy significantly tarnished President Yoon’s approval ratings and provided his political adversaries with sustained ammunition.
The accumulation of scandals involving Kim added to the increasing pressure on the Yoon administration in the months leading up to the martial law crisis. Many speculated that Yoon’s surprising decision to enforce martial law might have been an attempt to shield his wife from criminal investigations. However, independent counsel Cho Eun-suk, who led a separate investigation into the martial law decree, conducted an extensive probe into the motivations behind the declaration.
The ruling against Kim comes as the court prepares to deliver its verdict on the rebellion charges against Yoon. The former president’s trial could potentially result in capital punishment, as prosecutors have explicitly requested the death sentence. The severity of charges against both members of the presidential couple underscores the magnitude of the political and legal crisis that has engulfed South Korea’s former first family.
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison for his role in supporting the martial law declaration. Han’s lengthy prison term indicates the judiciary’s firm approach to those involved in the constitutional crisis of December 2024. This sequence of high-profile convictions has altered South Korea’s political landscape and demonstrated the country’s commitment to holding influential figures accountable.
The ruling can be appealed by either side, ensuring that Kim’s legal saga will likely continue for months or years through South Korea’s appellate courts. With both the defense and prosecution expressing dissatisfaction with different aspects of the verdict, appeals seem almost certain. The case has captivated South Korean public attention as a symbol of the dramatic reversal of fortune for a couple who once held the country’s highest office.
Kim was present in the courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court when the lead judge announced the verdict. This marked a stark contrast to her former status as South Korea’s first lady, representing the nation alongside the president at official functions and diplomatic events. The presidential couple now finds themselves incarcerated separately, awaiting the resolution of multiple criminal proceedings that will determine their ultimate fate.
