Kim keon hee sentenced to 20 months for accepting luxury gifts linked to church.

A South Korean court on Wednesday sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for accepting expensive gifts from a church described by prosecutors as cult like, while clearing her of stock manipulation and other allegations.

Kim, 53, has long been a controversial figure, with accusations of corruption, influence peddling and academic misconduct casting a shadow over the presidency of her husband, former leader Yoon Suk Yeol.

Both are now behind bars. Yoon is in custody over actions connected to his failed declaration of martial law in December 2024, while Kim was imprisoned on corruption charges.

Judge Woo In sung of the Seoul Central District Court found Kim guilty of accepting bribes and handed down the 20 month sentence.

The court ruled that she received luxury items from the Unification Church, including a Chanel handbag and a Graff necklace.

Prosecutors had sought a 15 year prison term, arguing that Kim abused her position and undermined public institutions.

However, the court acquitted her of stock manipulation and campaign finance violations, resulting in a significantly lighter sentence.

In delivering the verdict, Judge Woo said Kim’s closeness to the president gave her significant influence, which she used for personal benefit. He added that public office or proximity to power must never be used to pursue private gain.

Kim listened to the ruling in silence, dressed in a black suit and wearing a white face mask and glasses.

After the verdict, she issued a statement apologising for the concern she may have caused and said she accepted the court’s stern criticism. Her legal team said she had not yet decided whether to appeal.

Prosecutors criticised the decision, calling it difficult to accept, and confirmed they would appeal.

At Kim’s final hearing in December, they accused her of acting above the law and colluding with the Unification Church in a way that violated the constitutional separation of religion and state.

Kim has consistently denied wrongdoing, describing the charges as deeply unjust in her final testimony last month.

She still faces two additional trials, including further bribery allegations and accusations of violating the Political Parties Act. Prosecutors allege she helped arrange the mass enrolment of more than 2,400 church members into Yoon’s conservative People Power Party.

Kim, an outspoken animal lover who gained international attention for campaigning against the dog meat trade, frequently overshadowed her husband’s domestic agenda with recurring scandals.

In 2023, hidden camera footage appeared to show her accepting a luxury handbag worth about 2,200 dollars, an episode that became known as the Dior bag scandal.

The controversy further damaged Yoon’s already low approval ratings and contributed to his party’s defeat in the April 2024 general election.

Yoon vetoed three opposition backed bills that sought to investigate allegations against Kim, including the Dior bag case. His final veto came in November 2024, one week before he declared martial law.

Kim’s sentencing follows a series of high profile convictions linked to that period. Former prime minister Han Duck soo recently received a 23 year prison term for aiding Yoon’s suspension of civilian rule.

Yoon himself was sentenced earlier this month to five years for obstructing justice and other offences, the first of several trials tied to the martial law declaration.

CBI News reports that investigation into Kim also led to the arrest of Han Hak ja, the leader of the Unification Church, which claims millions of followers worldwide and operates a vast business network.

On the same day as Kim’s sentencing, the court jailed Yun Young ho, a former church official, for 14 months for giving luxury gifts to Kim and providing illegal political funds to a lawmaker.

Opposition lawmaker Kweon Seong dong, an ally of Yoon, was also sentenced to two years in prison for receiving 100 million won from the church.