Kim Keon Hee jailed 4 years in South Korea appeal

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to four years in prison by an appeals court in Seoul on Tuesday, after being convicted of stock manipulation and bribery.

The new sentence increased her punishment from an earlier 20-month term, according to the ruling. Kim has been detained since August and has denied all allegations.

Appeals court overturns acquittal on stock manipulation

The appeals court found Kim guilty of taking part in the manipulation of a thinly traded Korean stock. In doing so, it reversed a lower court decision that had cleared her on that specific charge.

The court’s decision came after a series of investigations tied to scandals involving her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was impeached and removed from office in April 2025, officials said.

Luxury gifts linked to Unification Church expectations

On the bribery count, the court confirmed that Kim accepted two Chanel bags and a Graff necklace from the Unification Church. The items were valued at about 80 million won ($54,257), the ruling said.

The court concluded she received the gifts while aware the church expected political favors connected to its overseas business operations. Alongside the prison term, the court fined Kim 70 million won and ordered the forfeiture of the necklace.

Next legal steps and related cases

Kim’s lawyers said they plan to take the case to the Supreme Court. The ruling leaves open the possibility of further changes to the outcome, depending on the top court’s review.

The appeals court also upheld a prior decision that acquitted Kim of violating election law. That part of the case was not changed by Tuesday’s judgment.

The case sits within a wider set of legal actions linked to Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in 2024. That episode later led to Yoon receiving a life sentence in February for insurrection, according to the case summary.