Key facts
- An appellate court reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee's sentence to five years in prison.
- The Seoul High Court acquitted Kim of some bribery charges.
- Kim was accused of receiving jewelry worth over 100 million won (US$72,800) from a construction company chairman.
- She was also charged with receiving a golden turtle ornament and a replica painting from a former education official.
- The court ordered the confiscation of gifts and forfeiture of 24.4 million won.
An appellate court on Tuesday reduced former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee's prison sentence to five years in prison for bribery charges. The Seoul High Court partially overturned a lower court's seven-year sentence, acquitting her of some charges related to accepting expensive gifts in exchange for job appointments.
Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, was indicted by special counsel Min Joong-ki on charges including receiving jewelry worth over 100 million won (US$72,800) from a construction company chairman between March and May 2022 for a government job for his son-in-law. She was also accused of receiving other gifts, including a golden turtle ornament, a replica painting, a Dior bag, and a Vacheron Constantin watch, in exchange for appointments or favors. Additionally, she was accused of receiving a painting from a former prosecutor in exchange for help securing an election nomination.
While the lower court convicted her on all counts, the appellate court acquitted her of charges related to receiving the luxury watch and the replica painting. The court found her guilty for the remaining charges, ordering the confiscation of the gifts and forfeiture of 24.4 million won, a reduction from the lower court's ordered forfeiture of 64.8 million won. "The defendant repeatedly accepted valuables without hesitation, losing sight of her status as the spouse of the president," the court stated.