Seoul, South Korea – A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for accepting lavish gifts from the Unification Church, a controversial religious sect, while acquitting her of stock manipulation and campaign finance violations.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by Judge Woo In-sung of the Seoul Central District Court, marks a dramatic turn in the scandals that have dogged Kim and her husband, former president Yoon Suk Yeol, throughout their time in office. Both are now in custody Yoon for his role in the chaotic declaration of martial law in December 2024, and Kim for corruption.
The Court’s Decision
Judge Woo found Kim guilty of corruption, citing her acceptance of luxury items including a Chanel handbag and a Graff necklace from the Unification Church.
“One’s position must never become a means of pursuing private gain,” Judge Woo said, adding that Kim had “abused her position as a means of pursuing personal gain.”
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, arguing that Kim colluded with the church to undermine the constitutionally mandated separation of religion and state. In her final testimony last month, Kim denied the charges, calling them “deeply unjust,” but also apologized for “causing trouble despite being a person of no importance.”
Scandals Overshadowing Politics
Kim, 53, has long been a controversial figure. Allegations of graft, influence peddling, and academic fraud frequently overshadowed Yoon’s domestic agenda.
- In 2023, hidden camera footage appeared to show her accepting a $2,200 luxury handbag, sparking what became known as the “Dior bag scandal.”
- The scandal contributed to Yoon’s party’s defeat in the April 2024 general elections, where it failed to regain a parliamentary majority.
- Yoon vetoed three opposition-backed bills to investigate allegations against Kim, including the Dior bag case, before declaring martial law in late 2024.
Wider Fallout
Kim’s sentencing comes amid a broader wave of prosecutions linked to Yoon’s administration:
- Former prime minister Han Duck-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison for aiding Yoon’s suspension of civilian rule.
- Earlier this month, Yoon himself was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing justice and other crimes tied to the martial law declaration.
- The probe into Kim also led to the arrest of Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, which claims 10 million followers worldwide and operates a vast business empire.
- A Seoul court is also set to sentence top lawmaker Kweon Seong-dong on related bribery charges.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Kim Keon Hee underscores the deep political and institutional fallout from the scandals surrounding Yoon’s presidency. With both the former president and first lady now behind bars, South Korea faces a reckoning over corruption, abuse of power, and the entanglement of politics with powerful religious organizations.
