Former S. Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee, From Acquittal to 4 Years

An acquittal turned into four years. At first instance, former First Lady Kim Keon-hee had been cleared of the Deutsch Motors stock-manipulation charge and only partially convicted of brokerage-related funds tied to the Unification Church. The appeal flipped both findings. On April 28, 2026, Criminal Division 15-2 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Shin Jong-oh) found her guilty of violating the Capital Markets Act — ruling she had taken part in the price-manipulation scheme and calling it "a serious economic crime." The brokerage-bribery finding expanded from partial to full guilt. From 1 year and 8 months to 4 years plus a 50 million KRW fine — more than double. Both the defense and the special prosecution team appealed, sending the case to the Supreme Court.