First Lady Kim Keon-hee [Photo=Yonhap News]

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who was indicted on charges of receiving bribes from the Unification Church and stock manipulation, has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison and ordered to forfeit 12,815,000 won in the first trial.

This verdict marks the first time in constitutional history that a first lady has received a prison sentence for criminal offenses.

The Criminal Settlement Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) held on the 28th found Mrs. Kim guilty only of "solicitation-related bribery" among the three main charges, acquitting her of charges related to "Deutsche Motors" and "Myeongtaekgyun Public Opinion Poll."

The court ruled that in the case of receiving bribes from the Unification Church, she was guilty of receiving items such as a diamond necklace and Chanel bag along with petitions regarding church matters. She was found not guilty of violating the Capital Markets Act in connection with the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, and not guilty of violating the Political Funds Act in relation to the Myeongtaekgyun Public Opinion Poll.

While the prison sentence is significantly lower than the 15 years requested by the special prosecutor's team, the fact that a prison sentence was handed down indicates that a fierce legal battle is expected during the appellate process.

Meanwhile, Yoon Young-ho, former World Headquarters Director of the Unification Church, who was jointly tried on charges of giving bribes to Mrs. Kim, was also sentenced to one year and two months in prison on the same day.

Previously, on the 10th of last month, Special Prosecutor Min Jung-ki's team had requested a four-year prison sentence for former Director Yoon.

One citizen who watched the sentencing live strongly criticized, stating, "The court squeezed out every bit of guilt."

For former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife, who are the first couple in constitutional history to receive prison sentences simultaneously, there are still nine trials awaiting their first-instance judgments.

These cases have been indicted by the prosecution and three special prosecutor teams (rebellion, Kim Keon-hee, deceased marines), and the couple will be in court throughout the first half of the year.

Mrs. Kim has two trials pending from Min Jung-ki's special prosecutor team, related to allegations of mass Unification Church membership and so-called "selling of offices." President Yoon Seok-yeol has seven remaining trials, including the December 3rd Emergency Martial Law case, for which the first-instance verdict is expected on the 19th of next month.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee