A South Korean court sentenced former first lady Kim Keon-hee to 20 months in prison for corruption on Wednesday but acquitted her of alleged stock manipulation and other charges.
While the ruling marked the first time that both members of a presidential couple were convicted of crimes in South Korea , Kim’s lighter punishment could be seen as a legal victory.
Her husband, former president Yoon Suk-yeol , was handed a five-year jail term earlier this month after being found guilty of multiple charges, including attempts to block his arrest following his botched 2024 martial law decree.
Yoon, 65, separately faces either life imprisonment or the death penalty in another case.
Kim, 53, was at the centre of a string of influence-peddling and bribery scandals throughout Yoon’s presidency, which was cut short to less than three years after his failed self-coup attempt led to his impeachment and removal from office.
Television commentator Son Suoo-ho said on YTN TV news show that the verdict was “something unexpected” after prosecutors sought a 15-year jail term, a 2 billion won fine and 948 million won in forfeiture for the three core charges.