A South Korean court sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church in exchange for political favors. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence, though prosecutors had demanded 15 years in prison and fines of 2.9 billion won, equivalent to $2 million.
Kim Keon Hee, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, faced multiple charges including bribery, stock manipulation, and violations of political funds laws. The court cleared her of stock manipulation charges and political funds act violations, finding insufficient evidence on those counts. The conviction centered on her acceptance of luxury gifts, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from Unification Church officials.
The verdict delivered at the Seoul Central District Court has sparked significant attention across South Korea.
Kim denied all charges throughout the proceedings. Through her lawyers, she said she would “humbly accept” the court’s verdict and apologized for causing concerns. Her defense team, led by lawyer Choi Ji-woo, indicated they are reviewing whether to appeal the conviction. Min Joong-ki, the independent counsel who prosecuted the case, announced that his prosecution team will appeal the sentence, seeking the full 15-year term originally requested.
The former first lady has been jailed since August 2025, when the court approved an arrest warrant. The court cited the risk that Kim might destroy evidence as justification for her detention ahead of trial. Prosecutors alleged that Kim accepted at least $200,000 in gifts, including two Chanel handbags in addition to the items specifically mentioned in the bribery conviction.
The case also implicated Han Hak-ja, who is currently on trial in connection with the bribery allegations. The Unification Church has denied expecting anything in return for the gifts, maintaining that the items were delivered without strings attached. However, prosecutors successfully argued that the luxury goods were provided specifically to secure political favors from Kim and, by extension, influence with the presidential administration.
Kim’s legal troubles represent just one facet of the spectacular downfall of South Korea’s former presidential couple. Her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law in December 2024, a decision that triggered a political crisis leading to his impeachment and eventual removal from office. Yoon now faces rebellion charges and is navigating eight separate trials related to his brief imposition of military rule.
The former president has already been sentenced to five years in prison on charges related to obstructing his own arrest following the martial law decree. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Yoon in connection with the rebellion charges, making his case one of the most serious faced by a former South Korean head of state in modern history. Despite the couple’s intertwined political fates, investigators determined that Kim was not involved in Yoon’s martial law enforcement.
The bribery scandal that ultimately led to Kim’s conviction was not her only brush with controversy during her time as first lady. In 2023, a scandal erupted when hidden camera footage appeared to show Kim accepting a $2,200 Dior bag, an incident that became known as the “Dior bag scandal.” That controversy significantly damaged President Yoon’s approval ratings and provided sustained ammunition to his political opponents.
The cumulative effect of scandals involving Kim contributed to mounting pressure on the Yoon administration in the months leading up to the martial law crisis.
Many political observers in Seoul initially speculated that Yoon’s shocking decision to impose martial law might have been motivated by a desire to protect his wife from criminal investigations. However, independent counsel Cho Eun-suk, who led a separate investigation into the martial law decree, conducted a thorough probe into the motivations behind the declaration.
The ruling against Kim comes as the court is expected to deliver its verdict on the rebellion charges against Yoon. The former president’s trial carries the possibility of 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.
Han Duck-soo received a 23-year prison sentence for his role in supporting the martial law declaration. Han’s lengthy sentence signals the judiciary’s stern approach to those involved in the constitutional crisis of December 2024. The series of high-profile convictions has reshaped South Korea’s political landscape and demonstrated the country’s commitment to holding powerful 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 appear virtually certain. The case has captivated South Korean public attention as a symbol of the dramatic reversal of fortune for a couple who once occupied the country’s highest office.
Kim appeared in the courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court as the lead judge delivered the verdict. The courtroom scene marked a striking contrast to her former position as South Korea’s first lady, representing the nation alongside the president at official functions and diplomatic events. The presidential couple now finds themselves jailed separately, awaiting the resolution of multiple criminal proceedings that will determine their ultimate fate.
Sources:
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/south-koreas-former-first-lady-receives-20-month-jail-sentence-bribery-rcna256273
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/28/former-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-south-korea-sentenced-corruption
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/28/south-koreas-former-first-lady-sentenced-to-jail-term-in-bribery-case
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-koreas-former-lady-sentenced-20-months-prison-129625094