South Korea’s Ex-First Lady Sentenced to 20 Months for Bribes From Unification Church
In a landmark ruling that has stunned South Korea’s political establishment, Kim Keon Hee, the 52-year-old wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced Tuesday to 20 months in prison for accepting bribes linked to the controversial Unification Church.
The verdict, delivered by a Seoul district court, caps a sensational corruption probe that has tarnished one of the country’s most powerful couples and exposed deep ties between evangelical groups and conservative politics.
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Kim, who wielded significant influence during her husband’s turbulent 2022-2025 presidency, was accused of exploiting her status as first lady to secure luxury gifts in exchange for political and business favors from the church, also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
The court found that Kim “exploited her status for personal benefit,” accepting items worth approximately 80 million won (about $57,000 at current exchange rates), including a lavish diamond necklace valued at tens of millions of won and high-end Chanel handbags.
Prosecutors painted a picture of a calculated scheme, alleging the bribes flowed from church leaders eager to gain favor with Yoon’s administration amid the group’s history of political maneuvering.
In exchange, Kim allegedly provided endorsements and facilitated introductions that advanced the church’s interests, from business deals to ideological alignment with Yoon’s hardline conservative agenda.
The prosecution sought a draconian 15-year sentence, arguing the case exemplified elite corruption, but the judge tempered the punishment by citing Kim’s clean prior criminal record and evidence that she did not actively solicit the bribes, though she readily accepted them.
As part of the sentence, Kim must repay 12.85 million won (roughly $9,200) in ill-gotten gains, and the diamond necklace was confiscated by authorities as proceeds of crime.
The ruling sends a clear message from South Korea’s judiciary, which has aggressively pursued high-level scandals since the 2016-2017 impeachment of President Park Geun-hye over similar graft allegations involving her confidante and Samsung.
Kim’s defense team vowed to appeal, calling the decision “politically motivated” and pointing to what they described as selective prosecution amid Yoon’s own legal woes.
Supporters outside the courthouse chanted in her defense, waving signs decrying “witch hunts,” while critics gathered nearby, demanding full accountability for the Yoon era’s excesses.
This conviction marks a historic first: Both members of a former South Korean presidential couple have now been criminally convicted, underscoring the fragility of power in the world’s 10th-largest economy.
Yoon Suk Yeol, 64, is already serving a five-year prison term after his conviction last year for abuse of power and obstruction of justice, charges stemming from his short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024, a desperate bid to cling to office that triggered massive protests and his eventual removal.
The couple’s downfall has riveted the nation, evoking memories of past scandals like Park’s jailing and the 2004 suicide of President Roh Moo-hyun’s aide amid bribery probes, highlighting how personal ambition often intersects with national governance in Seoul’s cutthroat political arena.Kim’s legal troubles are far from over.
She still faces additional charges related to recruiting Unification Church members into the conservative People Power Party (PPP), Yoon’s ruling party during his tenure.
Prosecutors allege she actively funneled church adherents, many of whom share the group’s anti-communist, pro-family ideology—into party roles, bolstering its ranks ahead of key elections.
The Unification Church, founded by Rev. Sun Myung Moon in 1954 and notorious for its mass weddings and cult-like practices, has long courted political influence in South Korea and beyond, including ties to Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party and U.S. conservatives.
Kim’s involvement amplifies concerns about foreign religious lobbies meddling in domestic affairs.The scandal has broader implications for South Korea’s conservative movement, already reeling from Yoon’s implosion. The PPP, now in opposition, struggles to distance itself from the taint, with polls showing public trust in politics at historic lows.
Acting President Han Duck-soo, who assumed duties after Yoon’s ouster, has promised judicial independence, but opposition lawmakers accuse the government of weaponizing courts against rivals. Internationally, the case draws parallels to U.S. political dynasties under scrutiny, like the Trump family’s legal battles, reminding observers that even in stable democracies, the line between influence and corruption can blur.
As Kim prepares for potential incarceration, likely in a women’s facility with privileges for high-profile inmates, eyes turn to upcoming trials and the 2027 presidential election.
Her issue encapsulates South Korea’s democratic growing pains: a vibrant press, fierce protests, and an unyielding judiciary that topples leaders without hesitation.
Whether this leads to reform or further polarization remains unclear, but one thing is certain, the Yoon-Kim era has left an indelible scar on the republic’s reputation.
