Prosecutors in South Korea have requested a 15-year prison sentence for former first lady Kim Keon Hee, who was arrested in August and faces charges related to alleged stock manipulation, election meddling, and accepting unlawful gifts from the Unification Church.
Kim, the 53-year-old wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared for her final court hearing on December 3. Prosecutors called for a prison sentence and a fine of two billion won ($1.37 million), claiming she ‘stood above the law’ and worked with the Unification Church to erode the separation of religion and state.
According to prosecutors, this cooperation with the religious organization, commonly criticized as a cult, ‘collapsed both the fairness of elections and the system of representative democracy that forms the foundation of national governance.’
Kim is accused of using her influence to interfere in parliamentary elections and manipulating stock deals. During her final testimony, Kim said the allegations were ‘deeply unjust.’ However, she acknowledged accountability, stating, ‘Yet when I consider my role and the responsibilities entrusted to me, it seems clear that I have made many mistakes.’ She added, ‘While there was room to dispute the allegations, I sincerely apologise for the great discourtesy I have caused the public.’
Kim’s final hearing coincided with the anniversary of her husband’s declaration of martial law, a brief attempt to suspend democratic rule that led to national unrest. Yoon was arrested earlier this year on charges of insurrection, which he denies.
This marks the first time in South Korean history that both a former president and first lady have been detained. The sentencing for Kim is scheduled for January 28.
