Story perspectives

Court Extends Ex-First Lady Kim’s Sentence to Four Years

4/29/2026

Summary

Story summary

An appeals court raised former First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison term from 20 months to four years for stock-price manipulation and bribery involving Deutsch Motors shares and gifts from the Unification Church.
Judges imposed a 70 million won fine, ordered confiscation of the Graff necklace and said her first-lady influence damaged transparency and public trust.
Her lawyers said they will appeal to the Supreme Court after supporters gathered with pro-Yoon banners.

History

Historical Context

The 1997 Hanbo Steel scandal, in which founder Chung Tae-Soo received a 15-year sentence for bribery that helped trigger the Asian financial crisis, exposed deep ties between government and chaebols under President Kim Young-sam. Decades later, a 2024 appeals court extended first-lady Kim Keon-Hee’s prison term for manipulation, reviving public demand for stricter oversight of political-business corruption.

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Story summary

An appeals court raised former First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison term from 20 months to four years for stock-price manipulation and bribery involving Deutsch Motors shares and gifts from the Unification Church.
Judges imposed a 70 million won fine, ordered confiscation of the Graff necklace and said her first-lady influence damaged transparency and public trust.
Her lawyers said they will appeal to the Supreme Court after supporters gathered with pro-Yoon banners.

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