(2nd LD) Appeals court increases sentence for ex-first lady to 4 years for corruption

Lead

South Korea's Seoul High Court has increased the prison sentence for former first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years on corruption charges, overturning a lower court's more lenient ruling. The court found her guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church, as reported by Yonhap News Agency, the South China Morning Post, and Deutsche Welle. The sentence, handed down on April 28 in a hearing televised live, replaces her original 20-month prison term.

Coverage comparison

The three outlets covered the ruling with consistent factual reporting, though their emphases differed. Yonhap News Agency provided the most detailed account, noting that the special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki had sought a 15-year prison term, while the court imposed a four-year term and a 50 million won fine. The South China Morning Post focused on the court's decision and its aftermath, including a separate report on the death of the presiding judge. Deutsche Welle placed the ruling in the broader context of her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces convictions and charges related to his attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.

All three outlets reported that Kim was found guilty of accepting luxury goods from the Unification Church, but their coverage of the stock manipulation charge differed slightly. Yonhap and the South China Morning Post stated that the appeals court found her partially guilty of involvement in the scheme, while Deutsche Welle reported that the court found she had participated in manipulating the price of Deutsch Motors stock. The discrepancy appears to stem from the court's ruling that she provided a brokerage account but did not directly orchestrate the manipulation.

The death of the presiding judge, Shin Jong-oh, was reported by both the South China Morning Post and Yonhap. Police discovered his body early Wednesday near the Seoul High Court building, with an apparent suicide note found in his pocket. The note reportedly included phrases such as "I am sorry" and "I am leaving of my own accord," but police said it did not mention Kim's case or his judicial duties. Police do not suspect foul play but are investigating the exact cause of death, giving weight to the possibility that he fell from the building.

Key claims

• The Seoul High Court increased Kim Keon Hee's sentence from 20 months to four years in prison, imposing a 50 million won fine and ordering the confiscation of a necklace, as reported by all three outlets.
• The court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts, including two Chanel bags and a Graff diamond necklace, from a former Unification Church official who sought favors, according to Yonhap and Deutsche Welle.
• The court reversed a lower court's acquittal on the stock manipulation charge, ruling that Kim was partially guilty because she provided a brokerage account holding 2 billion won to an investment advisory firm, which sold 180,000 shares in Deutsch Motors, as reported by Yonhap.
• The court acquitted her of receiving free opinion poll results from a self-proclaimed power broker, upholding the lower court's ruling, according to Yonhap.
• Kim's lawyers vowed to appeal the four-year sentence, while special counsel Min Joong-ki's team also said it would review the ruling, as reported by Yonhap.
• The special counsel team later appealed to the Supreme Court to dispute the acquittal on the opinion poll charge, according to Yonhap.
• The presiding judge of the appeals trial, Shin Jong-oh, was found dead outside the Seoul High Court, with police investigating the circumstances, as reported by the South China Morning Post and Yonhap.
• Kim's husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, faces various convictions and charges related to his December 2024 martial law attempt, and was impeached and removed from office, according to Deutsche Welle and Yonhap.

Perspectives

The Court's Ruling

The Seoul High Court, through its lead judge, stated that Kim "exerted her influence as first lady and committed the bribery," adding that "she damaged public trust." The court's sentencing decision took into account her previously clean criminal record.

The Special Counsel Team

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team, which indicted Kim on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and the law on acceptance of bribes for mediation, had sought a 15-year prison term. The team argued that Kim, "while holding a position close to the president, used that influence for transactions for personal interests." After the appeals court ruling, the team appealed to the Supreme Court to dispute the acquittal on the opinion poll charge.