South Korea ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee sentenced to 4 years for corruption
Synopsis
South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee has been handed a four-year prison sentence by a Seoul appeals court — more than double her original term — after being found guilty of stock price manipulation and accepting luxury gifts from a Unification Church official. With her lawyers vowing to appeal and the special counsel reviewing the ruling, the case is set to drag on even as South Korea navigates its deepest political crisis in decades.
Key Takeaways
Seoul High Court increased Kim Keon Hee's sentence from 20 months to four years in prison on 29 April 2025 .
She was found partially guilty of stock price manipulation involving Deutsch Motors , generating alleged illegal profits of 810 million won (approximately USD 549,000).
She was convicted of accepting a Graff diamond necklace and two Chanel bags from a former Unification Church official seeking favours.
The court fined her 50 million won and ordered confiscation of the necklace plus a forfeit of approximately 20 million won .
Kim's lawyers have vowed to appeal; special counsel Min Joong-ki's team said it would review the ruling.
The special counsel had originally sought a 15-year prison term.
South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee had her prison sentence increased from 20 months to four years by an appeals court on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, after being found partially guilty of stock price manipulation and guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church. The ruling by the Seoul High Court, delivered during a live-televised hearing, marks a significant escalation in one of South Korea's most closely watched corruption trials.
Key Findings of the Appeals Court
The Seoul High Court found Kim partially guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. According to the court, Kim had provided a brokerage account holding 2 billion won to an investment advisory firm, through which she sold 180,000 shares in the company — allegedly generating 810 million won (approximately USD 549,000) in illegal profits between 2010 and 2012.
The court also convicted her of accepting two Chanel bags and a Graff diamond necklace from a former Unification Church official who was reportedly seeking favours. In addition to the four-year prison term, the court imposed a fine of 50 million won, ordered the confiscation of the necklace, and directed a forfeit of approximately 20 million won.
Where the Lower Court Differed
The lower court had previously convicted Kim only of accepting some of the luxury gifts, stopping short of finding her guilty on the stock manipulation charges. The appeals court reversed that position on the stock scheme, finding sufficient evidence of her direct involvement through the brokerage account. However, it upheld the lower court's acquittal on charges that she received free opinion poll results from a self-proclaimed power broker ahead of her husband's 2022 presidential election, noting that the broker had also shared the results with others beyond former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.
What the Court Said
Point of View
And South Korea's layered judicial process means a final verdict remains distant. More broadly, this case — set against Yoon Suk Yeol's own impeachment — underscores a structural problem: informal presidential-family influence in South Korea has repeatedly escaped robust legal checks until it is too late. The court's language about public expectations from a president's spouse is significant, but words without a swift, final conviction carry limited deterrent value.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What sentence did Kim Keon Hee receive from the Seoul appeals court?
The Seoul High Court sentenced Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison on 29 April 2025, increasing her original 20-month sentence. She was also fined 50 million won and ordered to forfeit approximately 20 million won.
What charges was Kim Keon Hee convicted of?
She was found partially guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors, and guilty of accepting luxury gifts — including a Graff diamond necklace and Chanel bags — from a former Unification Church official in exchange for mediation.
What was the stock manipulation scheme Kim Keon Hee was involved in?
According to the Seoul High Court, Kim provided a brokerage account holding 2 billion won to an investment advisory firm, through which 180,000 shares in Deutsch Motors were sold, allegedly generating 810 million won in illegal profits between 2010 and 2012.
Will Kim Keon Hee appeal the four-year sentence?
Yes. Kim's lawyers have vowed to appeal the ruling to a higher court. The special counsel's team has also said it will review the verdict, suggesting further legal proceedings are likely.
Who is Kim Keon Hee and why is her case significant?
Kim Keon Hee is the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was himself impeached and removed from office in late 2024. Her corruption trial has drawn intense public scrutiny over the informal influence wielded by presidential spouses in South Korea.
