Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s former President Yoon Suk Yeol (who was removed from office), has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for accepting bribes linked to the controversial Unification Church.
Her husband was recently sentenced to five years in jail for abusing his power and obstructing justice over his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024. He is still awaiting a ruling on serious rebellion charges, which could carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty. This is the first time in South Korea’s history that a former president and first lady have been convicted at the same time.
The political crisis that led to their downfall began on December 3, 2024, when President Yoon abruptly declared martial law during a period of declining public support. Justifying the decision with unsubstantiated claims that pro-North Korea “anti-government” groups were threatening national security, Yoon bypassed several cabinet members in a secretive emergency meeting. His actions sparked mass protests and fierce opposition from lawmakers, eventually leading to his impeachment in April 2025.
Click through to learn more about this unprecedented political drama that has shaken one of Asia’s most prominent democracies.