South Korea's former first lady sentenced to 20 months in prison for bribery https://t.co/b0kkhWqTW1
— CNN (@CNN) January 28, 2026
A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for corruption after finding her guilty of accepting lavish gifts from the Unification Church. Judge Woo In-sung ruled that her proximity to power gave her “significant influence” which she abused for personal gain.
Kim was acquitted of stock manipulation and campaign finance violations, despite prosecutors seeking a 15-year sentence. “One’s position must never become a means of pursuing private gain,” Judge Woo said. Kim denied wrongdoing but admitted she had made “many mistakes,” as the scandals deepened political turmoil surrounding her husband’s presidency.