In a historic legal development, South Korea’s former First Lady, Kim Keon-hee, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison following a high-profile bribery scandal. This ruling, delivered by a Seoul District Court, marks the first of three major cases against her. The court found Kim guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the controversial Unification Church, which included a high-end Chanel handbag and a Graff-branded diamond necklace. The presiding judge stated that Kim willfully exploited her official position for personal gain, displaying a readiness to accept lavish favors in exchange for influence.
Despite the conviction on bribery charges, the court acquitted the former First Lady on separate allegations involving stock market manipulation and the conduct of independent opinion polls, citing a lack of sufficient evidence. This verdict represents a catastrophic blow to the former first couple; Kim’s husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, is already incarcerated on charges of treason and the unlawful imposition of martial law.
The scandal also brings renewed scrutiny to the Unification Church, a religious organization previously linked to the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. With this sentencing, South Korea marks a grim milestone in its political history, as it is the first time a former President and their spouse are serving prison sentences simultaneously.
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