A South Korean court has sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison on charges of accepting bribes from the Unification Church, marking a historic moment in the country’s political history.
According to the BBC, the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday ruled that Kim abused her power for personal gain and failed to restrain her greed. Presiding judge Woo In-sung said, “The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. She neglected that responsibility.”
The 52-year-old was found guilty of receiving gifts worth 80 million won in 2022 in exchange for political and business favors. The items included a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel handbag. The court ordered her to return 12.8 million won and confiscated the necklace. However, she was acquitted of charges related to stock manipulation and election interference.
Following the verdict, Kim said she accepted the court’s stern rebuke with humility and expressed deep remorse for her actions. “I sincerely apologize for all the mistakes I have made,” she said.
This is the first time in South Korea’s history that both a president and a first lady have been convicted. Earlier, her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power and imposing martial law.
Kim still faces several other legal cases, including allegations that she attempted to recruit Unification Church followers into the conservative party and accepted gifts from job applicants seeking positions in public institutions. Additionally, her postgraduate degree has been revoked due to academic misconduct.
