The Seoul High Court is set to hold the final hearing on Wednesday in the corruption trial of former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Both Kim, who received a 20-month prison sentence in the lower court, and special counsel Min Joong-ki have appealed. The court will hear Kim's final statement and decide on the sentencing date.
The Seoul High Court will hold the final hearing on Wednesday for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges including accepting luxury goods from the Unification Church. The appeal process began after both Kim and special counsel Min Joong-ki challenged the lower court's January sentence of 20 months in prison, which was far short of the 15-year term sought by the special counsel team.
In January, the Seoul Central District Court convicted Kim of receiving a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace, along with business favors, from the Unification Church in 2022. However, it acquitted her of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and violating the Political Funds Act by accepting free opinion polls with her husband. The court acknowledged that Kim may have been aware of the stock manipulation but ruled she could not be seen as an accomplice, and that neither she nor her husband financially benefited from the polls.
During the final hearing, the appellate bench is expected to hear Kim's final statement and decide on the trial's sentencing date.
