Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Stands Trial on Bribery and Corruption Charges

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s former president Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared in court on Wednesday as her corruption trial began, marking a significant development in a broader investigation involving prominent political and religious figures.
Kim is facing multiple charges, including bribery and stock manipulation. Her appearance at the Seoul Central District Court was her first public outing since her arrest in August. She wore a black suit and made brief procedural remarks, confirming her identity and requesting a bench trial rather than a jury trial. She did not comment on the charges against her.
Prosecutors presented a list of allegations, which include orchestrating stock manipulation schemes, violating political fundraising laws by requesting free opinion polling, and accepting bribes from the Unification Church. Defence attorneys denied all allegations and argued that the prosecution had not disclosed the full scope of the evidence.
If found guilty, Kim could face penalties ranging from fines to a maximum of five years in prison.
The investigation gained public attention after a video surfaced showing Kim receiving a luxury handbag from a pastor, an incident that sparked widespread controversy. The scandal became a major point of criticism during her husband’s presidency, which ended abruptly following his declaration of martial law and subsequent removal from office in December. Yoon is currently being tried separately on charges related to insurrection and has been in custody since July.
On Tuesday, Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, was sentenced to prison after being accused of directing church members to provide bribes to Kim in exchange for political influence. According to prosecutors, the gifts allegedly included two luxury handbags, a high-end necklace, and a Korean ginseng gift set, with an estimated total value of around 80 million won (approximately USD 59,000). Kim’s legal team has denied she accepted any such items.
Han has rejected the charges, describing them as unfounded.
The Unification Church, established in the 1950s by religious leader Sun Myung Moon, is known for its global following and mass wedding ceremonies. The organization has long faced scrutiny over its practices, including aggressive fundraising. It has come under renewed public attention in recent years, particularly after being linked to political controversies abroad.