Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to Prison for Bribery
Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after being convicted of bribery. The ruling was delivered by the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday. She was found guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church in exchange for favors. This conviction marks a significant moment, as it is the first time a former South Korean presidential couple has faced conviction simultaneously.
"This conviction marks the first time a former South Korean presidential couple has faced conviction simultaneously."
Court Conviction and Sentence
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison, equivalent to one year and eight months. The court found her guilty of accepting bribes, including a designer handbag, a diamond necklace, and other luxury items, from officials of the Unification Church. Specific sources identified a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace among the accepted gifts.
The court's findings indicated that Kim Keon Hee "misused her status as a means of pursuing profit" and "was unable to refuse the expensive luxury items provided in connection with special favor." However, the judge also noted that Kim did not solicit the gifts, did not relay requests from the church to her husband, and has expressed self-reflection regarding her actions. As part of the ruling, she was ordered to return a diamond necklace and remit 12.85 million won.
Prosecutors had reportedly sought a 15-year prison sentence for the various alleged crimes. Both Kim's legal team and the prosecution have the option to appeal the ruling.
Acquittals and Additional Allegations
Kim Keon Hee was acquitted of several charges, including:
- Stock price manipulation related to Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership.
- Violating South Korea's political funds act by receiving complimentary opinion polls prior to the 2022 presidential election. Some sources indicated the acquittal for the opinion polls was due to insufficient evidence and an expired statute of limitations.
- Receiving a second Chanel bag.
This week's trial is the first of three criminal cases Kim Keon Hee faces. She was arrested in August and has denied all allegations. Prosecutors had estimated the total value of the stocks, bribes, and polls involved in various allegations against her at approximately 1.15 billion Korean won (about $813,000 USD).
The "Dior Bag" Incident
A significant incident that garnered extensive public scrutiny involved footage that surfaced in late 2023. The secretly filmed video showed Kim Keon Hee accepting a $2,200 Christian Dior luxury handbag in September 2022. The footage was reportedly filmed by pastor Choi Jae-young. South Korean law prohibits public officials and their spouses from accepting gifts exceeding 1 million won (approximately $730 USD) in a single instance or 3 million won within a fiscal year when connected to public duties.
The presidential office confirmed receipt of the bag, stating it was being managed as government property. While Kim denied the charges related to this incident, she reportedly admitted to receiving Chanel bags, which she stated she later returned unused. Civic groups subsequently filed complaints citing potential violations of the Anti-Graft Act. This incident contributed to a decline in public support for former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his party's significant electoral defeat in April 2024.
Context: Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Legal Issues
Kim Keon Hee's sentencing follows the jailing of her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who received a five-year prison term earlier in the month from the same court. Yoon was convicted of charges including abusing power and obstructing justice, specifically in relation to a failed martial law bid. Sources indicate the martial law decree was declared in December 2023. Following this declaration, legislators entered parliament and overturned the decree, leading to Yoon's impeachment and removal from office.
Yoon is appealing his conviction and faces multiple additional criminal trials, including charges of insurrection. Before the martial law declaration, he had vetoed three opposition-backed bills aimed at investigating allegations against his wife, including the "Dior bag" case.
Historical Significance and Related Developments
The conviction of Kim Keon Hee marks the first occasion in South Korean history where a presidential spouse has been indicted while detained. It is also the first time a former presidential couple has simultaneously faced conviction.
In a related development, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo recently received a 23-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting Yoon's suspension of civilian rule. The leader of the Unification Church, Han Hak-ja, is also currently on trial concerning the bribes. The Unification Church has stated that the gifts were delivered to Kim without expecting anything in return, and its leader has denied directing gifts to bribe the first lady.
Prior Controversies and Public Scrutiny
Before her role as First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, 52, a businesswoman and art enthusiast, faced various allegations:
Academic Plagiarism
Allegations of plagiarism regarding her art education degree led to Sookmyung Women's University's decision to annul her degree in 2025. Kookmin University also reportedly revoked her master's and doctoral degrees due to similar allegations.
Resume Inflation
In 2021, she apologized for "exaggerations" on her resume and for submitting applications with false qualifications and awards to universities and companies ahead of the 2022 presidential election. She pledged to focus solely on her role as her husband's wife if he became president.
Business Activities
Kim founded Covana Contents, an art exhibition company, where she remains CEO and president. In 2019, reports emerged of alleged tax evasion and receiving kickbacks for hosting art exhibitions. While she was cleared of these specific charges in 2023, the case is currently under re-examination by a special counsel.
Min Joong-ki, who led a special counsel team investigating her, stated after concluding its investigation that Kim "used her status as president’s spouse to easily receive money and expensive goods, and widely intervened in various personnel appointments and nominations."