Storytimes Newspapers

  The court found Kim guilty of accepting luxury gifts worth approximately 80 million won (about $56,000 or £40,600) from officials linked to the controversial Unification Church (also known as the Moonies) between April and July 2022. The bribes included a high-end Graff diamond necklace, Chanel handbags, and other items, given in exchange for political and business favors during her husband Yoon Suk Yeol's presidency. Judge Woo In-sung noted in the verdict that while Kim did not actively solicit the bribes, she exploited her influential position as first lady—a symbolic figure representing the nation alongside the president—to seek personal gains. The judge highlighted that she had no significant prior criminal record, which contributed to the relatively lenient sentence compared to prosecutors' demands. Prosecutors from the special counsel team had sought a 15-year prison term plus fines of up to 2 billion won (around $1.4 million) across three charges: bribery, stock price ...