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South Korean First Lady Jailed for Accepting Luxury Bribes

  • On Wednesday, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim Keon‑hee, former first lady, to 20 months for accepting expensive items from the Unification Church in return for political favors.
  • After a 180-day probe concluded on December 29, Special counsel Min Joong‑ki said Kim Keon‑hee used her status as the president’s spouse to receive money and influence appointments.
  • Prosecutors detailed seized luxury items, noting a $27,700 wristwatch, a $97,000 painting, a $43,000 necklace, and the court ordered forfeiture of 12.8 million won .
  • With Wednesday's ruling, Kim Keon‑hee and her husband have become the country's first presidential couple jailed with criminal convictions, and both prosecutors and Kim’s legal team can appeal.
  • Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church, was indicted on bribery charges and denies directing payments; the church recruited more than 3,000 Unification members into Yoon Suk Yeol’s party, and a ruling in Yoon’s insurrection case is expected next month.
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A South Korean court has sentenced the former woman to one year and eight months in prison this Wednesday...

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A South Korean judge has sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison on Wednesday for receiving expensive gifts from a cult, although she has been acquitted of securities manipulation charges and other crimes she was accused of, says AFP. The controversy has long surrounded 53-year-old Kim, and accusations of mishandling, influence trading and even academic fraud dominated her husband's mandate, Yoon Suk-yeol. Both are in cus…

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The Hans India broke the news in on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
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