The Seoul Central District Court announced its decision on Wednesday, finding Kim Gon Hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, guilty of corruption, according to information provided by RIA Novosti.
The hearing, which took place on January 28, started at 14:10 local time (8:10 Moscow time) and was conducted by the criminal division No. 27 of the Central District Court. The court found the former first lady guilty of the charges against her.
This hearing was a significant event, as it marked the first time in history that a first-instance court conducted a live broadcast of the sentencing of a former first lady.
Kim Gon Hee, the wife of former head of state Yoon Suk Yeol, who made an unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in the country on December 3, 2024, was accused of a number of crimes, including securities fraud involving the car dealer Deutsch Motors, receiving expensive gifts from the religious organization "Unification Church" in exchange for business services, and manipulating public opinion polls during elections.
The special prosecutor Min Jung Ki's team requested a 15-year prison sentence for the former first lady in December 2025 as punishment.
