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A Seoul appeals court has increased former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee’s corruption sentence from 20 months to four years, according to Associated Press reporting carried by Japan Today. The ruling adds fresh legal pressure on the wife of ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was separately sentenced to life in prison for rebellion.
Key developments
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The Seoul High Court raised Kim’s sentence on Tuesday, April 28, after convicting her of additional corruption-related charges. Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the appeals court found her guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church.
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Kim had been sentenced in January to 20 months in prison by a lower court for receiving gifts, including a Graff diamond necklace and a Chanel bag, from the Unification Church. That court had acquitted her on the stock manipulation allegation, but the appeals court reversed part of that outcome.
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Prosecutors had sought a 15-year prison term, while Kim’s defense has argued the investigation was politically motivated. Her lawyers said they plan to appeal the ruling to South Korea’s Supreme Court, according to AP coverage published by WLRN.
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The case lands against the backdrop of Yoon’s dramatic fall from power after his December 2024 martial law declaration, impeachment, removal from office, and later criminal conviction. AP reported that investigators have said Kim was not involved in Yoon’s martial law enforcement.
What to watch
The next major step is whether South Korea’s Supreme Court accepts and reviews Kim’s appeal. Until then, the appeals court ruling stands as a sharper judgment on conduct tied to her time near the presidency and before she became first lady.
The case also keeps public attention on the wider legal fallout surrounding Yoon and his family. Further court action could clarify how much of the appeals ruling survives final review, including the findings related to luxury gifts and stock manipulation.
Sources
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