Kim Keon Hee gets seven years in South Korea bribery case

South Korea’s former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison after a Seoul court found her guilty of taking luxury gifts from people seeking influence. The case adds to the legal fallout surrounding ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, both of whom face multiple proceedings.

The Associated Press reported that the Seoul Central District Court convicted Kim of accepting valuables from businesspeople, a pastor, a former education official and a former prosecutor who wanted help with government appointments, public support or political opportunities. Kim has acknowledged receiving gifts but has denied that they were connected to favors, according to AP.

Judge Jo Soon-pyo said a president’s spouse has a duty to show exceptional caution because of the influence attached to the role, AP reported. The court found that Kim failed to meet that responsibility and used her position to help broker favors.

The court ordered authorities to seize several items Kim received, according to AP. They included a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace, a Tiffany brooch, a Dior handbag, a case for a gold turtle figurine and a painting by Korean artist Lee Ufan.

Kim appeared in court in a gray suit and white face mask and listened quietly with her head lowered, AP reported. Her lawyers said the verdict rested on an overly broad reading of weak evidence and said they would appeal.

Luxury gifts and alleged favors

Special prosecutors indicted Kim in December on bribery counts, according to AP. One charge involved Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan, who prosecutors said gave Kim a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and other jewelry worth 138 million won, about $90,000, in 2022 in exchange for help obtaining a government post for his son-in-law.

The Seoul court convicted Kim on that charge and sentenced Lee Bong-kwan to one year in prison, suspended for two years, AP reported.

Kim was also found guilty of taking a luxury watch from businessman Seo Seong-bin, who wanted state backing for his robotic dog business, according to AP. The court also convicted her over gifts from Pastor Choi Jae-yong, who sought a place in a civilian diplomatic delegation and access to other government-funded programs.

Other convictions involved a gold turtle and traditional painting from former National Education Commission chief Lee Bae-yong, who lobbied for her appointment, and a Lee Ufan painting valued at 140 million won, about $90,900, from former senior prosecutor Kim Sang-min, who wanted the conservative party’s nomination in the 2024 legislative elections, AP reported.

The court gave suspended prison terms to Seo Seong-bin and Lee Bae-yong and fined Choi 8 million won, about $5,200, according to AP.

Yoon’s removal still casts a shadow

Friday’s sentence came after an appeals court separately sentenced Kim to four years in prison in a case involving allegations that she accepted gifts from the Unification Church and profited from a stock price manipulation scheme, AP reported. Kim has been on trial in several cases since her arrest last August.

Yoon was removed from office in April 2025 after being impeached over his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024, according to AP. He had been in a standoff with the liberal opposition, which controlled the legislature and blocked much of his agenda.

Yoon was arrested in July 2025 and is also fighting several cases. AP reported that he has appealed a life sentence for rebellion and a separate 30-year sentence tied to allegations that he ordered drone flights over Pyongyang to raise tensions and help justify martial law at home.

President Lee Jae Myung, a liberal who won the early election held after Yoon’s removal, has authorized multiple investigations into Yoon’s martial law order and other allegations involving Yoon’s administration and Kim, according to AP.

This story draws on original reporting from NPR.