South Korea’s political scene has been rocked once again following the conviction of former First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who was sentenced to four years in prison by an appeals court on Tuesday. The ruling represents a significant increase from an earlier judgment and has intensified scrutiny surrounding the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The appeals court not only lengthened her sentence but also overturned part of a lower court’s decision, finding her guilty of involvement in stock manipulation alongside several traders. Judges concluded that she directly influenced the price of a lightly traded stock—reversing her earlier acquittal on that charge.
In addition, the court upheld bribery charges, stating that she accepted luxury gifts, including two Chanel handbags and a Graff necklace worth about 80 million won ($54,257), from the Unification Church. The court ruled that she was aware the group expected political favors in return, particularly concerning its overseas business interests.
Delivering the verdict, the court strongly criticized her actions, emphasizing that she used her position as first lady to exert influence and engage in corruption. The lead judge stated that her conduct damaged public confidence in government transparency and deepened divisions within the country.
Beyond the prison sentence, Kim was fined 70 million won, and the court ordered the confiscation of the necklace, underscoring the seriousness of the offenses. The ruling reflects a broader effort by the judiciary to clamp down on abuses of power that threaten democratic institutions.
Kim, who has been in custody since August, was initially sentenced to 20 months in January for bribery but cleared of other allegations at the time. However, the appeals process expanded her culpability to include stock manipulation. Other accusations—such as illegally supporting a candidate in a 2022 by-election—were reviewed, but the court upheld her earlier acquittal on election law violations.
Despite the ruling, Kim continues to deny all charges. Her legal team has announced plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, signaling a prolonged legal battle that could further influence discussions about political accountability in South Korea.
The case is part of a wider wave of prosecutions linked to scandals involving her husband’s administration. Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office in April, was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of orchestrating an insurrection tied to a controversial martial law declaration in 2024.
The repercussions have spread across the government. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a 23-year prison sentence for failing to act against the plan, while several aides remain on trial for their alleged roles.
Altogether, these convictions highlight a sweeping judicial crackdown on corruption within South Korea’s political elite, reinforcing demands for transparency while revealing deep divisions in the nation’s governance.