Shaman linked to ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee appeals 6-year prison sentence for taking bribes
Published: 02 Mar. 2026, 14:30
![Jeon Seong-bae, right, a shaman known for his close ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, appears at the special counsel's office in southern Seoul to undergo questioning on Jan. 19. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/03/02/0f4dcda5-a0b0-4970-b9f1-9cb38372bee6.jpg)
Jeon Seong-bae, right, a shaman known for his close ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, appears at the special counsel's office in southern Seoul to undergo questioning on Jan. 19. [YONHAP]
A shaman known for his close ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee has appealed a court ruling sentencing him to six years in prison for accepting bribes from the Unification Church, legal sources said on Monday.
Jeon Seong-bae, better known as Geonjin, filed the appeal on Friday, days after the Seoul Central District Court convicted him of accepting 80 million won ($55,000) worth of goods from a former church official by colluding with Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, in 2022, along with other offenses.
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team has also appealed the ruling, which acquitted Jeon of violating the Political Funds Act over allegations that he took bribes from a provincial council member candidate in exchange for his help in securing his nomination.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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