South Korea's Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Gets 20 Months Of Imprisonment For Corruption

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 18:04 IST

Kim Keon Hee, wife of ousted South Korean ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to 20 months jail for corruption involving luxury gifts from the Unification Church.

Kim Keon Hee, wife of South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol. (Al Jazeera/X)

Wife of South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted over a martial law bid, was on Wednesday sentenced to 20 months of jail for corruption.

The court issued the order against former first lady Kim Keon Hee for receiving luxury gifts including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from the Unification Church in return for political favours.

She has also been to pay a fine of 12.8 million won (Rs8,22,844.16) and the court has also demanded the confiscation of the necklace.

Yoon, who faces multiple trials including a charge of masterminding the insurrection, was sentenced recently to five years in prison for mobilising the presidential ⁠security service to block authorities from executing an arrest warrant against him.

Also Read: Former South Korean PM Gets 23 Years In Prison For Role In 2024 Martial Law Insurrection

Last year, Yoon became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested. He had ordered military drones to fly near the North Korean border, in what they suspect was an attempt to provoke a hostile response and justify his imposition of military rule in December 2024. The martial law lasted for six hours before being rolled back under domestic and international pressure.

Also Read: South Korea’s Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Rearrested On New Charges: Report

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday found his wife “exploited her position to seek personal gains".

“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," the lead judge of a three-justice bench said.

According to Sky News, the court acquitted Kim on charges of stock price manipulation and political funding law violations.

Following the order, her lawyers issued a statement saying she “humbly accepts the court’s stern criticism" and is “sorry for causing public concern".

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