South Korea’s ex-first lady Kim Keon-hee faces bribery trial as Dior bag scandal widens
Kim Keon-hee appears in Seoul court as prosecutors outline bribery, stock manipulation and fundraising charges linked to the Unification Church; her husband Yoon Suk Yeol faces separate insurrection-related proceedings.
SEOUL, Sept. 24, 2025 — Kim Keon-hee, the wife of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, appeared in Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday to face a corruption trial prosecutors say spans bribery, stock manipulation and political fundraising violations. Wearing a black suit, Kim marked her first public appearance since her arrest in August and briefly confirmed her personal information, asking for a trial by judge rather than by jury while offering no remarks on the charges.
Prosecutors outlined a broad slate of charges, including stock manipulation and violations of political fundraising laws by asking a power broker to conduct what the government described as free opinion polling. They also allege Kim accepted bribes from South Korea s Unification Church. Prosecutors cited gifts valued at about 80 million won, including two Chanel bags, a Graff necklace and a Korean ginseng gift set, provided by Han Hak-ja, the church s leader, in return for political favors. Kim s lawyers deny any wrongdoing and say prosecutors have not shared key evidence. If convicted on any charge, penalties range from fines to as much as five years in prison.
Kim's husband, Yoon Suk Yeol, also faces separate proceedings in connection with insurrection and has been held in custody since July. The former president's ongoing case is proceeding in a separate venue, but both cases have drawn attention to the broader political and legal fallout from the so-called Dior bag scandal that has shadowed Yoon s administration.
On Tuesday, Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church, was jailed on allegations that she directed the organization to bribe Kim for political favors. Prosecutors said the church provided Kim with two Chanel bags, a Graff necklace and a Korean ginseng gift set, valued at about 80 million won in total. Kim s lawyers have said she did not receive any of those gifts, and Han has denied the bribery allegations. The Unification Church, founded in the 1950s by a self-proclaimed messiah known simply as Moon and long criticized for its fundraising and influence operations, has faced renewed scrutiny amid ties to South Korean politics.
The Dior bag episode has long been a focal point of the scandal surrounding Kim and Yoon. The hidden camera video showing a pastor presenting a Dior handbag to Kim helped fuel questions about political favors and access. The scandal contributed to a broader crisis that culminated in Yoon s December decision to declare a state of martial law, a move that precipitated his removal from office. Prosecutors say the new charges related to stock manipulation and political fundraising are part of a wider inquiry into the couple s connections with religious organizations and other power brokers in Seoul.
The trial is part of an expanding probe into the conduct of political figures and religious groups in South Korea. Kim s legal team has asserted that prosecutors have not disclosed substantial evidence and has urged the court to ensure a fair process. If the court finds Kim guilty on any count, the penalties could range from fines to imprisonment of several years, depending on the charge and the specifics of the evidence presented. The proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks, with more witnesses and documents likely to be introduced as the prosecution and defense present their cases.
