An appellate court in South Korea has increased the prison sentence of Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, from one year and eight months to four years, reports Todayinfo citing Yonhap.
The lower court had initially sentenced Kim Keon-hee to one year and eight months in prison. However, the appellate court overturned the decision, extending the term to four years. The court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts and partially guilty of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme.
Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, accusing her of stock price manipulation, obtaining public opinion poll results from a politician ahead of the 2022 presidential election, and accepting Chanel handbags and a Graff diamond necklace. The appellate court upheld the acquittal on the poll-related charges, noting that the politician had shared the information not only with the former president and his wife but also with others.
Under the ruling, Kim Keon-hee must pay a fine of 50 million won (approximately 29,000 euros), and the diamond necklace will be confiscated. Earlier in February, former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life imprisonment for attempting to impose martial law in 2024.
