Appeals court set to hold final hearing of ex-first lady's corruption trial | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK By Chae Yun-hwan SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- An appeals court is set to hold the final hearing Wednesday of former first lady Kim Keon Hee's trial on multiple charges, including her acceptance of luxury goods from the Unification Church. Former first lady Kim Keon Hee (2nd from R) speaks to her lawyer during her trial at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, in this file photo taken Dec. 3, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) In January, the Seoul Central District Court convicted Kim of accepting a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace, along with business favors from the Unification Church in 2022. During the final hearing, the appellate bench is expected to hear Kim's final statement and decide on the trial's sentencing date. yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (3rd LD) Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee sentenced to 20 months in prison in corruption trial Special counsel accuses ex-first lady of accepting additional luxury items (2nd LD) Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee appeals 20-month prison sentence in corruption trial Keywords #ex-first lady #corruption trial Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (3rd LD) Lee says S. Korean actress IU Nobel chemistry laureate in Seoul prev Appeals court set to hold final hearing of ex-first lady's corruption trial Next Appeals court set to hold final hearing of ex-first lady's corruption trial

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By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- An appeals court is set to hold the final hearing Wednesday of former first lady Kim Keon Hee's trial on multiple charges, including her acceptance of luxury goods from the Unification Church.
The Seoul High Court will wrap up the trial's proceedings that began after both Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and special counsel Min Joong-ki appealed a lower court's sentence of a 20-month prison term.
The sentence fell far short of a 15-year term sought by Min's team.
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee (2nd from R) speaks to her lawyer during her trial at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, in this file photo taken Dec. 3, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
In January, the Seoul Central District Court convicted Kim of accepting a Chanel bag and a Graff diamond necklace, along with business favors from the Unification Church in 2022.
The court, however, acquitted Kim of two other main charges -- involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme and violating the Political Funds Act for accepting free opinion polls, along with her husband.
While the court recognized that Kim may have been aware of the stock price manipulation, it said that she could not be seen as an accomplice. It also determined that Kim and her husband could not have financially benefited from the opinion polls.
During the final hearing, the appellate bench is expected to hear Kim's final statement and decide on the trial's sentencing date.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)
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Appeals court set to hold final hearing of ex-first lady's corruption trial

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- During the final hearing, the appellate bench is expected to hear Kim's final statement and decide on the trial's sentencing date. yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (3rd LD) Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee sentenced to 20 months in prison in corruption trial Special counsel accuses ex-first lady of accepting additional luxury items (2nd LD) Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee appeals 20-month prison sentence in corruption trial Keywords #ex-first lady #corruption trial Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Implications
- The Seoul High Court will wrap up the trial's proceedings that began after both Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and special counsel Min Joong-ki appealed a lower court's sentence of a 20-month prison term.
- While the court recognized that Kim may have been aware of the stock price manipulation, it said that she could not be seen as an accomplice.
- It also determined that Kim and her husband could not have financially benefited from the opinion polls.
- During the final hearing, the appellate bench is expected to hear Kim's final statement and decide on the trial's sentencing date. yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles (3rd LD) Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee sentenced to 20 months in prison in corruption trial Special counsel accuses ex-first lady of accepting additional luxury items (2nd LD) Ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee appeals 20-month prison sentence in corruption trial Keywords #ex-first lady #corruption trial Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers kim, court, trial topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 565.