The Seoul Central District Court on June 21 sentenced former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison for accepting bribes during and after the term of her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol.
According to the ruling, Kim was convicted of accepting jewelry, luxury handbags, and other high-end items in exchange for political favors. Presiding Judge Cho Sun-pyo stated that she "used her power as first lady to provide jobs and business favors," emphasizing she accepted bribes "without hesitation."
Kim was fined 64.8 million won (about $42,000) and ordered to forfeit the items she received. She denied the allegations, arguing the gifts were not bribes, and her lawyer announced they would appeal.
The court determined that Kim accepted jewelry worth over 100 million won (about $64,750) from a construction company owner in exchange for appointing the owner's son-in-law to a government position. A pastor also gave her a Dior bag and other gifts in exchange for favors related to state officials' duties.
Additionally, the court found that a former prosecutor gave her a painting by renowned artist Lee Ufan to support her election campaign, while a former chairman of the National Education Committee gave her a gold turtle statue in exchange for his appointment to that position.
This is not the first time Kim has faced prison time. In April, she was sentenced to four years for stock manipulation and bribery from the Unification Church of South Korea. Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is also serving a life sentence for directing military drones into North Korea, which prosecutors say was intended to create a pretext for declaring martial law in December 2024 and leading a rebellion. Yoon was removed from office in 2025 after being impeached. During his presidency, he vetoed three opposition-led bills to investigate allegations against Kim, after a video surfaced in 2023 showing her receiving a luxury handbag.
