Former South Korean First Lady Sentenced to Prison for Taking Bags and Diamond Jewelry as Bribes

Former South Korean First Lady Kim Kun-hee was sentenced to 20 months in prison for accepting diamond jewelry and branded bags as bribes from the controversial religious organization Unification Church. She is the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

This is the first time in South Korean history that a former president and first lady have been sentenced to the same sentence. Previously, impeached President Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for abuse of power and obstruction of justice in connection with a failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

The special prosecutor's office said that Kim Kun-hee, 52, accepted gifts worth 80 million won ($56,000) from the Unification Church in exchange for business and political benefits between April and July 2022. Among them were a Graff diamond necklace and several Chanel bags.

On Wednesday (July 28), Seoul Central District Court Judge Woo In-sung ruled that Kim abused his position for personal gain. He added, “The higher someone’s position, the more consciously he must restrain himself from such behavior. He failed to reject these offers and was excessively attentive to his appearance.”

Kim was found guilty on one of three charges heard on Wednesday. The prosecution had requested a 15-year prison sentence and a 2 billion won fine for this charge. However, the judge noted that Kim did not demand the bribes on his own. He has no significant criminal record. The court ordered him to return 12.85 million won in cash. The court also ordered the confiscation of the diamond necklace.

At the same time, the court acquitted Kim of stock price manipulation and receiving free opinion polls from a political broker ahead of the 2022 presidential election, which her husband, Eun Suk-yeol, won.

Kim is also accused of plotting to recruit followers of the Unification Church into her husband’s conservative People Power Party and accepting gifts in exchange for government jobs. The hearings in those cases have not yet begun.

In a statement after the verdict, Kim said, “I humbly accept the court’s strong reprimand and will not take its significance lightly.” She added, “I sincerely apologize to everyone.” Kim had previously denied all the charges.

The former first lady denied the charges, calling them “gross injustice.” She did, however, admit to receiving the Chanel bag. However, she claimed that she returned it without using it.

In August, he publicly apologized, saying, “I am truly sorry that people have been worried about a small person like me.” The Unification Church’s leader, Han Hak-jae, has also been arrested in connection with the investigation into Kim’s dealings with the church.

In addition to the criminal charges, Kim has been embroiled in other controversies. Last year, Sookmyung Women’s University revoked her 1999 art education degree after the university’s ethics review panel found evidence of plagiarism in her master’s thesis.