Kim Keon Hee Files Appeal Against 20‑Month Prison Sentence Over Unification Church Gifts
Updated (4 articles)
Appeal Submitted on Feb 2 2026 Kim’s legal team lodged an appeal to the Seoul Central District Court, seeking reversal of both the 20‑month custodial term and the 12.8 million‑won forfeiture imposed for accepting luxury items from the Unification Church [1][2]. The filing follows the court’s judgment issued on Jan 28 2026 and mirrors a similar appeal filed by the special counsel two days earlier [3]. Lawyers argue the court misinterpreted the facts and imposed an unduly lenient penalty.
Court Convicted Her of Gift‑Bribery The district court found Kim guilty of receiving a Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace in July 2022 from a Unification Church official who was lobbying for business favors, sentencing her to 20 months in prison [1][3][4]. The ruling characterizes the items as bribes tied to the church’s attempts to influence government decisions. No other alleged wrongdoing was upheld.
Forfeiture and Acquittals Narrow Legal Exposure In addition to imprisonment, the court ordered Kim to surrender assets worth 12.8 million won (≈US $9,000) representing the value of the luxury gifts [1][2][3][4]. It acquitted her of a stock‑price manipulation scheme involving Deutsch Motors and of a Political Funds Act violation concerning free opinion polls, citing insufficient evidence of her accomplice role [1][2][4]. These acquittals limit her liability to the gift‑related offense.
Prosecution Demanded Far Harsher Penalties Special counsel Min Joong‑ki’s team had requested a 15‑year prison term, a 2 billion‑won fine, and forfeiture of 948 million won, arguing the court’s sentence was far below the severity of the alleged corruption [1][3][4]. The prosecutors’ request underscores the political stakes and contrasts sharply with the modest penalty imposed.
Historical First Couple Conviction and Parallel Yoon Trial Kim and her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, became the first former South Korean presidential couple to receive criminal convictions that include imprisonment [1][4]. Yoon is concurrently serving a five‑year sentence for leading a 2024 martial‑law insurrection and faces additional insurrection charges [1][4]. Their simultaneous legal battles mark an unprecedented moment in South Korean political history.
Discrepancy Over Additional Chanel Bag Classification Article 4 notes that a second Chanel bag received in April 2022 was not classified as a bribe because no specific request accompanied it, a detail absent from the other reports [4]. This nuance highlights differing judicial interpretations of the gift‑acceptance evidence.
Sources
-
1.
Yonhap: Kim Keon Hee Appeals 20‑Month Prison Sentence in Unification Church Gift Case: reports the Feb 2 appeal, forfeiture details, prosecutors’ 15‑year request, and Yoon’s parallel trial.
-
2.
Yonhap: Kim Keon Hee Appeals 20‑Month Prison Sentence for Unification Church Gifts: emphasizes lawyers’ appeal, historic first‑couple conviction, and acquittals of other charges.
-
3.
Yonhap: Special Counsel Appeals Kim Keon Hee Corruption Verdict: outlines the special counsel’s appeal, the prosecutors’ harsh penalty demand, and the July 2022 gift timeline.
-
4.
Yonhap: Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to 20 Months for Corruption: provides full sentencing details, notes the excluded Chanel bag, lists dismissed charges, and includes Kim’s remorse statement.
Timeline
July 2022 – Kim Keon Hee receives a Chanel handbag and a Graff diamond necklace from a Unification Church official who is lobbying for business favors for her husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, establishing the alleged bribe that later underpins her conviction [3][4].
August 2025 – Authorities detain Kim Keon Hee pending trial, marking the start of legal proceedings that later lead to her historic conviction; she remains in detention while prosecutors also allege involvement in a stock‑price scheme and political‑fund violations [4].
Jan 28 2026 – Seoul Central District Court sentences Kim to 20 months in prison, orders forfeiture of 12.8 million won for the luxury gifts, acquits her of stock‑price manipulation and Political Funds Act charges, and notes the case makes her and former President Yoon Suk Yeol the first former presidential couple in South Korea to receive criminal convictions and imprisonment; the court distinguishes a second Chanel bag given in April 2022 as not a bribe [4].
Jan 28 2026 – In a statement from her detention center, Kim says she “humbly accepts the court’s stern words” and apologizes for causing concern, while prosecutors had asked for a 15‑year term and a 2 billion‑won fine, underscoring the political stakes [4][1].
Jan 30 2026 – Special counsel Min Joong‑ki files an appeal, arguing the court misapprehended facts and imposed an unduly lenient 20‑month sentence, and reiterates the prosecution’s original request for a 15‑year prison term, a 2 billion‑won fine, and forfeiture of 948 million won [3].
Feb 2 2026 – Kim’s lawyers submit an appeal seeking to overturn both the custodial term and the 12.8 million‑won forfeiture, citing procedural errors and the disproportionate penalty relative to the alleged misconduct [2].
Feb 2 2026 – Special counsel describes the court’s ruling as “difficult to accept,” while prosecutors maintain that the sentence is far below the 15‑year term they sought, highlighting the high‑profile nature of the case [1][3].
Feb 2 2026 – The appeal process begins for both Kim and her husband Yoon, whose separate trial for leading a 2024 martial‑law insurrection has already resulted in a five‑year prison sentence, setting the stage for concurrent appellate hearings that could further reshape South Korea’s political‑corruption landscape [1].
2026‑2027 (future) – The appellate courts are expected to hear the appeals later in 2026, with outcomes that could either uphold the 20‑month term or impose harsher penalties, a development closely watched for its implications on judicial independence and the handling of corruption linked to religious organizations [1][3].