South Korea’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, on Wednesday, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for bribery.

The Seoul Central District Court found the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol guilty of accepting several luxury gifts and abusing her position for personal gain.

The 53-year-old was acquitted of a further charge of stock manipulation.

The verdict is not yet final. The prosecution had originally sought a 15-year prison sentence.

Ms Kim has been in custody since August.

Mr Yoon, who was deposed in 2025, is also in prison. He was sentenced to five years in prison in mid-January for obstruction of justice.

In a separate trial, prosecutors have sought the death penalty for Mr Yoon on charges of incitement, with a verdict expected on February 19.

While the death penalty remains legally in force in South Korea, it has not been carried out for nearly 30 years.

Mr Yoon unexpectedly declared martial law at the beginning of December 2024 in the wake of an escalating budget dispute, plunging his country into a deep political crisis.

South Korea has been led since June by President Lee Jae-myung, a centre-left politician and long-time rival of Mr Yoon.

(dpa/NAN)