A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to 20 months in prison for bribery, marking a major development in the legal aftermath of her husband’s departure from the presidency.

The ruling came from Seoul Central District Court, which found Kim guilty in a case centered on her acceptance of a luxury necklace from the Unification Church.

She was also fined 12.8 million won and the necklace was ordered confiscated.

Kim, the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, had been held in custody since August during the investigation.

Her conviction follows a turbulent period in South Korean politics, with Yoon having been removed from office in April of the previous year after attempting to impose martial law in December 2024. He is now facing multiple trials, including charges of insurrection.

Prosecutors had requested a 15-year sentence and fines exceeding 2.9 billion won if Kim had been convicted on all charges.

However, the court acquitted her on separate counts involving stock-price manipulation and political funding law breaches.

The Unification Church has stated it did not expect anything in return for its gift, and its leader Han Hak-ja, also facing trial, denies intending to influence Kim.

Delivering the verdict, Judge Woo In-sung said that while Kim held no formal government authority, her symbolic role as first lady carried moral weight.

Her legal team responded by stating they would study the court’s decision before determining whether to appeal.

Outside the courtroom, supporters of the former first couple applauded after the acquittals were read, despite freezing temperatures.

What we can confirm is Kim’s bribery conviction and her 20-month prison sentence imposed by the Seoul Central District Court; what’s still unclear is whether her legal team will file an appeal on her behalf in the coming days.