A Seoul Central District Court in South Korea on January 28, 2026 sentenced Kim Keon-hee, the former first lady and wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, to 20 months in prison after she was convicted on a bribery charge.
The court found that Kim accepted luxury gifts, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from officials of the Unification Church, a religious organisation, in exchange for political favours. In issuing the sentence, the judge noted that Kim’s position as first lady carried a degree of influence that she improperly used for personal gain.
Prosecutors had charged Kim with multiple offences, including bribery, stock price manipulation and violations of political funding laws, and initially sought a 15-year term and significant fines. The court acquitted her of the latter two counts, citing insufficient evidence, but upheld the bribery charge and imposed the prison term. The court also ordered the return of certain gifts, including proceeds related to the bribes.
Kim has been in detention since her arrest in August 2025 and has denied wrongdoing, although she acknowledged receiving some of the items at issue. Her legal team has indicated plans to review the verdict and consider an appeal.
The former president, Yoon, was impeached and removed from office following political turmoil over his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024, and has faced several other charges in separate trials. The sentencing of Taiwan’s former first lady marks a rare instance in which both a head of state and their spouse face criminal convictions.
Kim’s conviction is significant in a country where anti-corruption courts and special prosecutors have pursued high-profile figures accused of abusing public office. At the time of the sentence, Kim was also cleared of allegations involving stock manipulation and improper political funding, but the bribery conviction stood as a conviction for exploiting her position.