On January 28, 2026, a court in South Korea imposed a 20-month prison sentence on former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, finding her guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church in exchange for political advantages. The ruling was made by the Seoul Central District Court, although the prosecution had sought a 15-year imprisonment term and fines amounting to $2 million, or 2.9 billion won.
Kim Keon Hee, married to ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted on several counts, including bribery, stock manipulation, and contraventions of political funds laws. The court dismissed the stock manipulation charges and political funds act violations due to insufficient evidence. The conviction largely involved her acceptance of high-end presents, such as a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from officials of the Unification Church.
The judgment issued at the Seoul Central District Court has generated considerable interest throughout South Korea.
Kim consistently denied all charges during the trial. She expressed through her attorneys that she would “humbly accept” the court’s decision and apologized for provoking concerns. Her defense team, led by attorney Choi Ji-woo, is considering whether to challenge the conviction. Independent counsel Min Joong-ki, who led the prosecution, announced his intent to appeal the sentence, aiming for the full 15-year term initially demanded.
Kim has been incarcerated since August 2025, when the court issued an arrest warrant. The court justified her pre-trial detention, citing potential destruction of evidence by Kim. The prosecution claimed that Kim received at least $200,000 in gifts, including two Chanel handbags, in addition to the items specifically included in the bribery conviction.
Han Hak-ja, currently facing trial in relation to the bribery charges, was also implicated in the case. The Unification Church has refuted any expectations of reciprocity for the gifts, insisting that the items were given without any conditions. However, the prosecution successfully argued that these luxury gifts were given with the explicit purpose of obtaining political benefits from Kim and, consequently, gaining influence within the presidential administration.
Kim’s legal issues form a part of the spectacular downfall of the former presidential couple of South Korea. Her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared martial law in December 2024, sparking a political crisis that resulted in his impeachment and subsequent removal from office. Yoon is currently facing charges of rebellion and is dealing with eight distinct trials related to his temporary implementation of military rule.
Yoon has already been sentenced to five years in prison for charges related to thwarting his own arrest following the martial law decree. Prosecutors are seeking capital punishment for Yoon in connection with the rebellion charges, marking his case as one of the most severe faced by a former South Korean head of state in recent history. Despite the couple’s political fate being linked, investigators concluded that Kim was not involved in Yoon’s enforcement of martial law.
The bribery scandal resulting in Kim’s conviction was not the only controversy she faced during her tenure as first lady. In 2023, a scandal broke out when hidden camera footage seemed to show Kim accepting a $2,200 Dior bag, an event that came to be known as the “Dior bag scandal”. This controversy significantly affected President Yoon’s approval ratings and provided continuous fodder for his political adversaries.
The cumulative impact of scandals involving Kim added to the increasing pressure on the Yoon administration in the months leading up to the martial law crisis.
Initially, many political observers in Seoul speculated that Yoon’s shocking decision to impose martial law might have been driven by an intent to shield his wife from criminal investigations. However, independent counsel Cho Eun-suk, who led a separate investigation into the martial law decree, carried out an exhaustive probe into the motivations behind the declaration.
The verdict against Kim arrives as the court is preparing to deliver its judgment on the rebellion charges against Yoon. Yoon’s trial carries the potential for capital punishment, as prosecutors have specifically requested the death sentence. The severity of charges against both members of the presidential couple underscores the scale of the political and legal crisis that has engulfed South Korea’s former first family.
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 indicates the judiciary’s harsh stance towards those involved in the constitutional crisis of December 2024. The chain of high-profile convictions has transformed South Korea’s political landscape and demonstrated the country’s commitment to holding powerful individuals accountable.
Either party can appeal the ruling, signifying 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 almost inevitable. The case has held the attention of the South Korean public 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 presiding judge issued the verdict. The courtroom scene marked a stark contrast to her former role as South Korea’s first lady, where she represented the nation alongside the president at official functions and diplomatic events. The presidential couple now find themselves imprisoned separately, awaiting the results of multiple criminal proceedings that will decide their final destiny.
