(28 January 2026 | Source: Yonhap / IA "Kazinform")
A court in Seoul has found Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, guilty of receiving Chanel handbags and a Graff necklace from a representative of the Unification Church.
Other charges of stock manipulation and violating the law on political funds were not upheld by the court.
BACKGROUND
Kim Keon-hee first met the head of BMW dealer company Deutsch Motors in 2004 and, according to the prosecution, was aware of stock price manipulation with the support of Lee Jong-ho, former head of Black Pearl Invest.
As reported by IA "Kazinform" citing Yonhap, between 2009 and 2012 she took part in schemes, providing her brokerage accounts with amounts of 1.6 billion and 2 billion won (approximately 1.15 million dollars).
EVENTS
— The first phase of the scheme (December 2009 – October 2010) ended in losses for Kim, after which she received compensation of 47 million won.
— The second phase of the scheme (October 2010 – December 2012) brought her a profit of 811 million won.
The indictment only covered the second phase due to the statute of limitations on the first.
RECEIPT OF GIFTS
In April and July 2022, after her husband's inauguration, Kim Keon-hee received, via shaman Jeon Seong-bae, two Chanel handbags worth 8 million and 12.7 million won from a representative of the Unification Church.
In July, the church representative asked Kim to support the organisation's projects, including hosting a UN office in South Korea. Kim thanked him and assured him of her assistance.
She admitted receiving the handbags but denied a connection with the church and returned them to the giver. Kim also denied receiving the Graff necklace worth 62 million won.
COURT DECISION
The court in Seoul found Kim guilty of receiving expensive gifts, classified as a bribe. She was acquitted on the other charges.
The former first lady had been under arrest since 12 August last year. She has now been sentenced to 1.8 years in prison. Yoon Suk Yeol has also been arrested on charges of insurrection.
CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE
The case shows how rare criminal convictions remain against members of the presidential family in South Korea in cases of financial manipulation and receiving gifts.
It is worth recalling that in Kazakhstan, civil servants and their family members are also prohibited from accepting gifts in exchange for actions benefiting the giver: the violation is punishable by disciplinary measures, and any gifts received must be surrendered according to established procedures.