The wife of South Korea’s impeached and removed president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for corruption, deepening the political and legal crisis surrounding the country’s former first family as Yoon himself awaits a potentially historic verdict on rebellion charges.
According to an Associated Press report, the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday convicted Kim Keon Hee for accepting expensive gifts, including a diamond necklace, from leaders of the Unification Church in exchange for promises of business favours.
The ruling marks another dramatic chapter in the downfall of the once-powerful presidential couple, whose fortunes collapsed following Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024. The move sparked mass protests, parliamentary impeachment proceedings, and ultimately his removal from office.
Kim and her husband have been held in separate detention facilities for months as their respective trials progressed. While Yoon faces charges linked to the imposition of martial law and alleged abuses of power—offences that carry penalties ranging from life imprisonment to death—Kim was prosecuted on multiple corruption-related counts.
In delivering its verdict, the court cleared Kim of stock price manipulation and illegal political funding due to insufficient evidence. However, judges ruled that her conduct in the bribery case merited imprisonment.
“Staying close to a president, a first lady can exert significant influence and symbolically represents the country alongside the president,” the court stated. “But the defendant exploited her position to seek personal gains.”
The 20-month sentence was notably lower than the 15-year jail term requested by the independent counsel, who accused Kim of bribery, market manipulation and illegal political financingf.
Kim’s legal team welcomed the acquittals on two of the three charges but described the prison sentence as “relatively high,” indicating they are considering an appeal.
Kim has been in custody since August, when the court approved her arrest over concerns she might interfere with evidence. Shortly before her detention, she issued a public apology, expressing regret for causing public concern while maintaining her innocence and describing herself as “someone insignificant.”
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Attention is now shifting to Yoon’s fate, with the court expected to rule within weeks on rebellion charges tied to his short-lived martial law declaration. Reports indicate that another independent counsel has formally requested the death penalty for the former president.
During Yoon’s tenure, Kim was frequently at the centre of controversies that weighed heavily on his administration and eroded public trust. Some analysts speculated that the declaration of martial law was intended to shield her from mounting investigations.
However, an independent counsel team led by Cho Eun-suk said a six-month probe found no evidence linking Kim’s legal troubles to the decision. Investigators concluded that Yoon had been planning the move for more than a year as part of efforts to neutralise political opposition and consolidate power.
The parallel legal battles confronting the former presidential couple have become one of the most consequential political scandals in South Korea’s recent history, reshaping public discourse on power, accountability, and the rule of law.