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South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee jailed for 20 months for corruption | World News
The wife of South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol – who was ousted over a martial law bid – has been jailed for 20 months for corruption.
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced on Wednesday for receiving luxury gifts including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag from the Unification Church in return for political favours.
She was ordered to pay a fine of 12.8 million won (£6,495) and the court demanded the confiscation of the necklace.
Her husband faces rebellion charges that could see him jailed for life or face the death penalty.
He declared martial law in December 2024 leading to his eventual impeachment.
Yoon was handed a five year jail sentence earlier this month for mobilising the presidential security service to block authorities from executing an arrest warrant against him.
The Seoul Central District Court 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.
Kim was jailed for 20 months. File pic: AP
The court acquitted Kim on charges of stock price manipulation and political funding law violations.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison term for all the charges.
A statement from her lawyers said she “humbly accepts the court’s stern criticism” and is “sorry for causing public concern”.
Her legal team said they would review the ruling and consider an appeal to the bribery conviction.
The Unification Church said it had not expected anything in return for the gifts.
A court will rule on Yoon’s case next month.
Earlier this month he was convicted of fabricating official documents and failing to follow the legal process required for martial law, which must be discussed at a formal cabinet meeting.
The martial law bid was reversed by parliament after six hours, and triggered protests and calls for Yoon to be ousted.
Yoon has argued it was a response to the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda.
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He was impeached later in December over the incident, and he was removed from office by South Korea’s Constitutional Court in April.
During Yoon’s time in office, Kim was embroiled in a slew of scandals prompting speculation within South Korea that his martial law decree was a bid to protect his wife from investigation.
However, a six-month independent probe into the saga played down this theory.
