Kim Gun-hee’s husband, Yoon Seok-yeol, could face the death penalty for his role in imposing martial law in 2024 while he was president.
Published January 28, 2026
According to South Korea’s state-run Yonhap news agency, a South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Kun-hee to one year and eight months in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes from the Unification Church.
The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday acquitted Kim, the wife of disgraced former president Yoon Seok-yeol, of additional charges of stock price manipulation and violation of political financing laws.
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Kim is suspected of receiving bribes and lavish gifts totaling at least $200,000 from companies, politicians and the Unification Church.
The prosecution team has also indicted Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, who is currently on trial. The religious group is suspected of giving Kim valuables such as two Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace as part of an effort to gain influence with the first lady.
Prosecutors argued in December that Kim was “above the law” and conspired with religious organizations to undermine “the constitutional separation of church and state.”
Prosecutor Min Joon-ki also said South Korea’s system was “severely undermined by Mr. Kim’s abuse of power.”
In her final testimony last month, the former first lady denied all charges, calling the allegations against her “extremely unwarranted.”
However, she also apologized for “causing trouble despite being an unimportant person.”
“When I think about my role and the responsibilities that have been entrusted to me, it’s clear that I made a lot of mistakes,” she said in December.
Kim’s husband, former President Yoon, was forced out of office last year and sentenced to five years in prison for actions related to the brief and disastrous declaration of martial law in December 2024.
There is a possibility that Yun will be sentenced to death in other cases in the future.
In 2023, in what became known as the “Dior bag scandal,” hidden camera footage showed Kim accepting a $2,200 luxury handbag, further eroding President Yoon’s already dismal approval ratings.
The scandal contributed to Yun’s party being unable to regain a parliamentary majority and suffering a crushing defeat in the April 2024 general election.
Mr. Yoon has vetoed three bills supported by opposition parties to investigate allegations against Mr. Kim, including the Dior bag scandal, with the last veto in November 2024.
A week later he declared martial law.
Kim’s sentencing came just days after former prime minister Han Deok-soo was sentenced to 23 years in prison, eight years longer than the prosecutor’s request, for aiding and abetting Yoon’s suspension of civil government.
