SEOUL: A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in jail on Wednesday (Jan 28) for accepting Chanel bags and a diamond pendant from Unification Church officials in return for providing political favours.
The wife of ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office last year, was cleared on other charges of stock price manipulation and violating the political funds act. Prosecutors will appeal against the not-guilty verdicts, media reports said.
The ruling comes amid a series of trials stemming from investigations into Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024 and related scandals involving the once-powerful couple.
Kim had denied all the charges and her lawyer said the team would review the ruling by Seoul Central District Court and decide whether to appeal the bribery conviction.
The lead judge of the three-justice bench said the position of first lady does not come with any formal power allowing involvement in state affairs, but is a symbolic role representing the country.
„A person who was in such a position might not always be a role model, but the person must not be a bad example to the public,“ Woo In-sung said in the ruling.
The court fined her 12.8 million won (US$8,990) and ordered the confiscation of the necklace. Kim has been detained since August while under investigation.
Prosecutors had demanded 15 years in jail and fines of 2.9 billion won if she was found guilty on all charges.
The defendant, wearing a dark suit and a face mask, was escorted into the courtroom by guards and sat quietly while the verdict was delivered.
