Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon-hee has been sentenced to seven years in prison after a court found her guilty of accepting expensive gifts in exchange for influencing government appointments and business-related requests.
The Seoul Central District Court also ordered the confiscation of assets worth 64.8 million won, including luxury jewelry, paintings, a gold turtle ornament, and a Vacheron Constantin watch box.
The court described the case as one involving the “sale of official influence for personal gain,” ruling that Kim used her position as the president’s spouse to accept valuable gifts from individuals seeking favors related to government appointments and business interests.
According to prosecutors, Kim received luxury items, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, artwork by artist Lee U-fan, a gold turtle ornament, a Dior handbag, and other expensive gifts from business executives, public officials, and a pastor. Authorities argued the gifts were provided in exchange for assistance with nominations, business approvals, and other official matters.
Rejecting the defense’s argument that the gifts were exchanged through personal relationships or as proxy purchases, the court ruled that they were directly linked to requests involving presidential duties. It stated that Kim should have exercised greater caution given her public role but instead repeatedly accepted gifts while using her influence for private benefit.
Several other individuals involved in the case also received sentences. Construction executive Lee Bong-gwan was handed a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years, while entrepreneur Seo Sung-bin and former National Education Committee Chair Lee Bae-yong each received 10-month suspended prison terms. Pastor Choi Jae-young was fined 8 million won.
Kim’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that the court overly broadened the interpretation of what constituted improper gifts and influence. While acknowledging that accepting some gifts as first lady was inappropriate, her lawyers rejected the court’s conclusion that the case amounted to selling official positions for personal gain.
