On June 26, a South Korean court sentenced the wife of former President Kim Gong-hee to an additional seven years in prison for selling official positions and receiving expensive gifts. The court found her guilty on all counts, including accepting funds and valuables worth approximately 300 million won in exchange for mediating various cases.
The court ordered the confiscation of valuable items from the defendant, such as a painting by artist Li Ufang and a golden turtle. Additionally, she was required to pay a fine of 64.8 million won.
In a separate case, former President Kim Gong-hee received a one-year, eight-month prison sentence on January 28 for corruption charges. The woman had been charged on three counts but the court found her not guilty on two of them. Prosecutors accused her of manipulating the value of car dealer securities.
On February 19, a South Korean court sentenced Yoon Seok-young to life imprisonment for allegedly leading an attempted military rebellion in 2024. The former head of state was found guilty of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun and others to organize riots and undermine the constitution. The former defense minister received a 30-year prison sentence on the same day.
Yoon Seok-yeol, arrested on January 15, 2025, in a corruption case, became South Korea’s fifth convicted president. His arrest triggered unrest among supporters who staged pogroms. On July 15, it was reported that he was rearrested as the court feared he might destroy evidence.
