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Seoul High Court Increases Kim Keon Hee's Sentence to Four Years in Stock Manipulation Case, Acquits on Political Funds Charge
A special counsel team in South Korea has appealed a court ruling that sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison for corruption charges. The Seoul High Court increased her sentence from 20 months after finding her guilty in a stock manipulation scheme and accepting luxury gifts. Kim's lawyers have also appealed the decision.
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A special counsel team in South Korea challenged an appeals court ruling on May 4, 2026, that sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison. The Seoul High Court issued the ruling on Tuesday, raising Kim Keon Hee's sentence from 20 months to four years in prison.
The court found her partially guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church, Yonhap reported.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team sought a 15-year prison term for Kim Keon Hee. The team indicted her on charges including violations of the Capital Markets Act, Political Funds Act, and bribery laws, though the court later acquitted her on the political funds charge.
The appellate court acquitted Kim Keon Hee on charges of violating the political fund law for allegedly receiving free opinion poll results from a self-proclaimed power broker.
Kim's lawyers appealed the ruling, Yonhap reported. Former first lady Kim Keon Hee spoke during former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae's trial at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul. The photo of Kim Keon Hee speaking was taken on April 13, 2026.
Kim Keon Hee is the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
