South Korean Court Sentences Former First Lady

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison on Friday for accepting bribes during and after her husband's presidency. The ruling concludes a high-profile corruption trial involving the exchange of luxury goods, including jewelry and designer accessories, for political influence and government appointments.

Presiding Judge Cho Sun-pyo stated that Kim leveraged her position to facilitate job placements and business favors, accepting illicit gifts without hesitation. The court ordered the confiscation of the items and imposed a fine of 64.8 million won, approximately $42,000. Evidence presented during the proceedings detailed multiple instances of bribery, including a 100 million won jewelry set provided by a construction firm owner in exchange for a government position for his son-in-law.

This sentence adds to a four-year term Kim received in April for separate charges of stock manipulation and bribery. Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently serving a life sentence for insurrection following his 2025 impeachment. Defense counsel for the former first lady has indicated plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining that the items received did not constitute bribes.