📰 South Korea Appeals Court Sentences Ex-First Lady to 4 Years
On April 28, 2026, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 15-2, presided over by Judge Shin Jong-o with Judges Sung Eon-ju and Won Ik-seon, sentenced former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison and a fine of 50 million won (approximately $35,000 USD) in a landmark appeals ruling.
The court significantly increased Kim’s sentence from the 20 months imposed at the first trial, finding her guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors and accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church.
The Seoul High Court stated that Kim’s actions “severely undermined capital market order and betrayed public trust,” warranting a heavier penalty. The appeals court determined that the original sentence was insufficient given the gravity of the offenses.
Kim’s defense team announced plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of South Korea. The case has been one of the most closely watched political scandals in recent Korean history.
Kim Keon Hee is the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and removed from office in 2025. The case has sparked widespread public debate in South Korea about the ethical standards expected of political figures and their families.
Legal analysts suggest that the final outcome of Kim’s case could have far-reaching implications for South Korean politics and the ongoing reckoning with corruption in the country’s political establishment.
Source: Yonhap News Agency, Reuters