Former South Korean First Lady Kim Hee sentenced to seven years in prison

A Seoul court has sentenced South Korea’s former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, to seven years in prison on a bribery conviction, further intensifying the legal fallout from the political crisis that culminated in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal.

The verdict was announced on Friday, less than a year after prosecutors filed charges against Kim for bribery, breaches of financial market laws, and violations of political funding regulations, as reported by US News.

In August 2025, a team headed by Special Prosecutor Min Joong‑ki indicted Kim, roughly two weeks after a court issued an arrest order.

Prosecutors alleged that Kim accepted bribes and contravened financial market and political funding statutes amid extensive investigations into alleged corruption involving her and senior officials from her husband’s administration.

Her conviction occurs while authorities persist in sweeping investigations of Yoon’s former government.

The political crisis in South Korea began on December 3, 2024, when Yoon declared martial law in an effort to advance his agenda through an opposition‑controlled National Assembly. Although lawmakers revoked the declaration within hours, the episode sparked months of instability, disrupted foreign policy, and unsettled the economy.

Yoon was subsequently impeached and removed from office in April, and was rearrested after his conservative party suffered an early presidential election defeat.

The government then appointed three special prosecutors to probe the martial law declaration and corruption allegations that involve Yoon, Kim, and other officials from the former administration.

Another team, led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun‑suk, charged former Prime Minister Han Duck‑soo with assisting Yoon’s martial law declaration.

Han also faces charges of falsifying and destroying official documents and perjury.

Authorities reported that dozens of individuals have been arrested or investigated in connection with the martial law episode and corruption allegations tied to the former administration.

Among those investigated is former Defence Minister Kim