A South Korean court has sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to one year and eight months in prison for accepting bribes from officials linked to the Unification Church in exchange for political favours.
The court cleared Kim of stock price manipulation and violations of the Political Funds Act, according to CNN.
Prosecutors had claimed she received opinion polls from a power broker to influence candidate selections, but the court found insufficient evidence to support those allegations.
Kim is the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted last year and sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power and obstruction of justice over his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.
This marks the first time in South Korean history that a former presidential couple have been convicted simultaneously.
Prosecutors had sought 15 years in prison and fines of Sh261 million (around $2 million), alleging Kim received luxury gifts, including designer handbags and a diamond necklace, in exchange for political favours.
The court ordered her to repay Sh1.16 million (around $9,000) and confiscated the diamond necklace.
Kim has denied all allegations. After the verdict, her lawyer said the team would review the decision and decide whether to appeal the bribery conviction.
In a statement, Kim said, “I humbly accept the court’s stern admonition and will not take its weight lightly. Once again, I sincerely apologise to everyone for the concern I have caused.”
The ruling comes amid a series of trials linked to Yoon’s short-lived 2024 martial law declaration and related political scandals.