Special Counsel Seeks 15-Year Term at Final Hearing in Kim Keon Hee Appeal

The push for a far tougher sentence signals an appeals ruling that could reshape the lower court’s 20-month term.

Overview

Special counsel prosecutors, during the Seoul High Court’s final hearing Wednesday, asked for a 15-year prison term for former first lady Kim Keon Hee.
Min Joong-ki’s team argued the earlier punishment was too light and said the conduct harmed social values and public trust.
In January, the district court sentenced Kim to 20 months and ordered a 12.8 million won forfeiture for taking a Chanel bag, a Graff necklace, and other favors from the Unification Church in 2022.
That court acquitted her of stock manipulation and of illegally receiving free opinion polls, saying awareness alone did not make her an accomplice and there was no financial gain.
Both sides appealed, and the High Court is expected to set a date for its decision, which could alter the sentence and will draw scrutiny because the case involves ties to a major religious group and the 2022 election landscape.