Former South Korean First Lady Gets Additional Seven-Year Jail Term Over Alleged Gift-for-Favours Scandal

Former South Korean First Lady Gets Additional Seven-Year Jail Term Over Alleged Gift-for-Favours Scandal

Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison after a Seoul court found her guilty in a case involving luxury gifts and alleged political favours.

The court ruled that Kim accepted several high-value items from individuals allegedly seeking government appointments, business advantages and political access. The items reportedly included a Dior handbag, a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany brooch, Graff earrings, a Vacheron Constantin watch valued at 39 million won, a gold turtle and a painting worth 140 million won.

According to the judgment, Kim used her position as first lady to influence appointments and facilitate opportunities for individuals who provided the gifts. The court held that her conduct undermined public trust in public office and governance.

Among those linked to the case were a construction businessman seeking a government role for his son-in-law, a pastor attempting to strengthen connections with senior government figures, a former university president and the chief executive of a robotic dog retail company allegedly seeking contracts with the presidential security service.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a fine of 64.8 million won and ordered the confiscation of items connected to the case where recoverable.

Kim denied the allegations, while her legal team announced plans to challenge the ruling on appeal, arguing that the evidence was overstated.

The former first lady is already serving a four-year prison sentence following an earlier conviction related to stock price manipulation and separate bribery allegations.

Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is also serving a life sentence after his conviction over actions connected to his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024.