SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean court on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, sentenced Kim Keon Hee, the former first lady and wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, to one year and eight months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes, marking the latest chapter in a series of scandals that have engulfed the former ruling couple.
The Seoul District Court ruled that Ms. Kim had accepted luxury items from members of the Unification Church, including a Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace. Prosecutors and defence lawyers said the verdict could be appealed.
The court acquitted Ms. Kim on charges of stock manipulation and conspiring with her husband to receive free public opinion polls, citing insufficient evidence and the expiration of the statute of limitations. She was also cleared of receiving a second Chanel bag.
Prosecutors had estimated that the alleged bribes, stocks and polling services together were worth 1.15 billion won, or about $813,000.
In delivering the verdict, Judge Woo In-seong said Ms. Kim had abused her position.
“Kim Keon Hee misused her status as a means of pursuing profit,” he said. “The defendant was unable to refuse the expensive luxury items provided in connection with special favor, and was thirsty to receive and decorate herself with them.”
Judge Woo added that Ms. Kim had not solicited the gifts, had not conveyed requests from the church to her husband, and was now “self-reflecting” on her actions.
Ongoing Legal Troubles
Ms. Kim is facing two additional criminal trials. She was arrested in August 2025 by a special prosecutor, who had sought a 15-year prison sentence for multiple alleged offences.
Min Joong-ki, who led the special counsel investigation, said in December that Ms. Kim had “used her status as president’s spouse to easily receive money and expensive goods, and widely intervened in various personnel appointments and nominations.”
The leader of the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies, is also standing trial in connection with the alleged bribes.
Ms. Kim and Mr. Yoon have consistently denied wrongdoing, though she has acknowledged receiving Chanel bags from church representatives.
Mr. Yoon, who was removed from office after being impeached, is currently on trial on charges of insurrection related to his brief declaration of martial law in 2024, as well as other allegations.
Background and Earlier Controversies
Before entering public life, Ms. Kim worked in the art industry and founded an exhibition agency. She married Mr. Yoon in 2012, when he was a prosecutor and had not yet entered politics.
As first lady, she maintained a high public profile, drawing attention for her fashion choices during overseas trips. Her visibility contrasted with the traditionally reserved role of presidential spouses in South Korea.
Questions about her conduct emerged during Mr. Yoon’s presidential campaign. In 2021, she apologised for inflating parts of her résumé and pledged to “remain focused on my role as a wife” if he were elected.
She later faced plagiarism allegations. Sookmyung Women’s University revoked her master’s degree in 2025, and Kookmin University subsequently withdrew her doctoral degree.
Prosecutors also accused her of manipulating shares in a car dealership, Deutsch Motors, between 2010 and 2012. Mr. Yoon’s decision as president to veto legislation calling for a special investigation into those claims drew criticism.
The Dior Bag Scandal
Public scrutiny intensified in late 2023 after a YouTube channel released covert footage showing a Korean-American pastor presenting Ms. Kim with a Christian Dior handbag in 2022, following Mr. Yoon’s election.
In the video, Ms. Kim is heard saying: “Why do you keep bringing these? Please, you don’t need to do this.” The footage did not show her accepting the bag, though a Dior shopping bag was visible nearby.
South Korea’s anti-corruption law prohibits public officials and their spouses from receiving gifts worth more than $750 in connection with official duties.
The episode triggered widespread criticism and contributed to a sharp decline in Mr. Yoon’s approval ratings. Ms. Kim largely withdrew from public view thereafter.
Presidential Downfall
In December 2024, Mr. Yoon declared martial law, prompting lawmakers to force their way into parliament past armed soldiers and overturn the decree.
He was subsequently impeached and removed from office. Investigations were launched into his administration, including his prime minister, who was sentenced last week to 23 years in prison.
Earlier this month, Mr. Yoon received a five-year sentence for obstructing attempts to detain him and preventing Cabinet deliberation over the martial law decision. He faces eight additional criminal trials, including on rebellion charges.
During court proceedings, Mr. Yoon has repeatedly declined to answer questions about his wife.
South Korea has a long history of former presidents being imprisoned. Mr. Yoon himself, as a prosecutor, played a role in the conviction of former President Park Geun-hye.
However, Ms. Kim’s sentence marks the first time in the country’s history that a former presidential couple has been jailed simultaneously.
