The legal troubles for South Korea’s former presidential family have intensified after the Seoul High Court significantly increased the prison sentence for former First Lady Kim Keon Hee. On Tuesday, an appeals court ruled that Kim must serve four years behind bars, a sharp jump from her initial 20-month term.
According to the Yonhap news agency, the higher court's decision was based on Kim’s proven involvement in a sophisticated stock price manipulation scheme. Additionally, the court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church, which bolstered the corruption charges against her.
While the prosecution, led by special counsel Min Joong-ki, had pushed for a much more severe 15-year sentence, the court settled on the four-year term. The ruling marks another chapter in the dramatic downfall of the former administration.
Kim’s husband, ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, was removed from power last year following his controversial decision to impose martial law in December 2024. Currently, Yoon is serving a life sentence as he faces numerous legal challenges stemming from his time in office.
This increased sentence for the former First Lady underscores the South Korean judiciary's commitment to holding top political figures accountable for financial misconduct. As multiple cases continue to move through the courts, the legacy of the Yoon presidency remains under intense legal scrutiny.
