Kim Keon-hee: shaman’s bribery verdict strikes a legal blow to South Korea’s ex-first lady

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Park Chan-kyongFebruary 25, 2026 at 07:38 AM
Kim Keon-hee: shaman’s bribery verdict strikes a legal blow to South Korea’s ex-first lady

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A South Korean court convicted shaman Jeon Seong-bae, known as "Monk" Gunjin, of bribery for acting as an intermediary between former first lady Kim Keon-hee and Unification Church figures. He was sentenced to six years in prison for channeling gifts, cash, and requests for political favors during the presidency of Kim's husband, Yoon Suk-yeol. The Seoul Central District Court's ruling found Gunjin guilty of influence-peddling. This verdict is significant because it directly impacts Kim Keon-hee's ongoing appeal on separate corruption charges, intensifying the political implications of her case. The conviction highlights the alleged back-channel influence exerted during Yoon Suk-yeol's administration.

Keywords

kim keon-hee 100% bribery verdict 90% south korea 80% jeon seong-bae 70% shaman 70% corruption charges 60% influence-peddling 60% yoon suk-yeol 50% unification church 50% political favors 40%

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Negative
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Source
South China Morning Post
Political Lean
Center-Right (0.50)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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