Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached former Republic of Korea (ROK) President Yoon Suk-yeol, has formally appealed her 20-month prison sentence for corruption charges this week. The Seoul court convicted her in 2025 for receiving valuables from Unification Church officials during her husband's presidency in 2022, while acquitting her of financial law violations.
Special Counsel Min Joong-ki's team simultaneously filed an appeal demanding a harsher 15-year sentence, arguing the court underestimated Kim's alleged role as a co-conspirator. The legal battle continues four years after the initial 2022 allegations surfaced, with prosecutors claiming Kim participated in stock manipulation between 2010-2012 and illegally obtained election-related data in 2021-2022.
This marks the first detention of a former ROK presidential spouse in the nation's history. Observers note the case reflects ongoing anti-corruption efforts in East Asia's third-largest economy, with verdicts expected later this year that could influence regional investor confidence.
