▲ Jeon Seong-bae (R), a shaman known for his close ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, appears before a special counsel team to undergo questioning in this file photo taken Jan. 19, 2026. (Yonhap)

shaman-corruption scandal

Shaman linked to ex-first lady appeals 6-yr prison sentence for taking bribes

SEOUL, March 2 (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 Monday.

Jeon Seong-bae, better known as Geonjin, filed the appeal Friday, days after the Seoul Central District Court convicted him of accepting 80 million won (US$55,000) worth of goods from a former church official in 2022 by colluding with Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, and 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 councilmember candidate in exchange for his help with securing his nomination.

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