South Korea Increases Sentence for Former First Lady

A South Korean appeals court has increased the sentence of former first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison for stock manipulation and corruption, up from an initial sentence of 20 months.

The court found her guilty of manipulating stock prices and accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church. It also imposed a fine of 50 million won (approximately €29,000).

According to the indictment, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol accepted bribes worth around 370 million won (€217,000), including artworks and jewelry, and interfered in state affairs. She has also faced accusations of influencing parliamentary elections.

Prosecutors had originally sought a 15-year prison sentence and a fine of two billion won (€1.2m), arguing that the former first lady had acted above the law and collaborated with a religious organization in a way that undermined the separation of church and state.

Kim was detained in August last year and has denied all charges.
(reuters, bak)