South Korea’s Ex-First Lady Jailed For Accepting Bribes

A South Korean court on Wednesday sentenced former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, to 20 months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from the controversial religious sect, Unification Church, including a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace.

The case marks a historic moment in the country as both members of a former presidential couple are now in jail.

The Seoul Central District Court acquitted Kim of separate allegations involving stock price manipulation and receiving illicit opinion polls ahead of the 2022 presidential election.

According to Reuters, prosecutors will appeal against the two not-guilty verdicts.

Kim, 52, was taken into custody in August over multiple allegations, including bribery, market manipulation and political meddling, which she has denied.

Prosecutors had estimated that the stocks, bribes and polls altogether were worth 1.15 billion Korean won (about $813,000).

The Seoul District Court Judge in the ruling, Woo In-Sung, said Kim had abused the influence that came with her status, ruling that she had “misused her position as a means of pursuing personal gain”.

“Kim misused her status as a means of pursuing profit … The defendant was unable to refuse the expensive luxury items provided in connection with special favor, and was thirsty to receive and decorate herself with them,” the judge said.

Prosecutors had accused her of receiving luxury gifts worth about 80 million won, including a diamond necklace and Chanel handbags, between April and July 2022 in exchange for business and political favours requesting 15 years jail term.

However, Kim was acquitted of stock manipulation and violations of campaign financing laws on Wednesday and received a far lighter sentence, according to AFP.

Woo said that Kim’s proximity to the president had given her “significant influence” that she had taken advantage of it.

Kim, the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, has acknowledged receiving Chanel handbags but said they were returned unused.

According to Reuters, during questioning last year, Kim issued a public apology, saying: “I am truly sorry that a nobody like me has caused concern to the people.”

She rejected all charges in her final testimony last month, describing the accusations as “deeply unjust”.

In South Korea, government officials and their spouses cannot accept gifts that are worth more than $750. The law mandates this even if there is no seeming conflict of interest.

The ruling comes weeks after Yoon himself was sentenced to five years in prison for abusing power and obstructing justice over his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

Meanwhile, Kim still faces additional cases related to allegations of political interference, improper job appointments and efforts to recruit Unification Church followers into the conservative People Power Party, which Yoon was a member of, AFP said.

The former First Lady has not decided whether she would appeal against the decision, according to her lawyer.