Chanel, Diamonds and a Courtroom: Korea's Ex-First Lady Sentenced
Kim Keon Hee, South Korea’s former first lady and wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison for bribery tied to gifts from the Unification Church, including a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace. The court found she misused her status to obtain money and luxury items but cleared her of stock manipulation and conspiring with her husband over polls (and also cleared her for receiving a second Chanel bag); the bribes were valued at about 1.15 billion won (~$813,000). Prosecutors and Kim can appeal. This case adds to a broader web of scandals surrounding the couple, who are both facing multiple trials, and marks the first time a former South Korean president and his wife have been jailed at the same time.