Former South Korean First Lady Sentenced to Additional 7 Years in Gifts-for-Favours Case
A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former first lady Kim Keon Hee to an additional seven years in prison for accepting high-value gifts in exchange for helping secure jobs, according to a livestreamed ruling.
Kim, 53, was found guilty of receiving precious metals and jewellery worth over 103 million won ($67,000) from a construction magnate in 2022. In return, she offered to secure a position for the magnate's son-in-law, the court said.
The court stated that Kim 'unhesitatingly accepted valuables of a kind that the average citizen would struggle to acquire even once in a lifetime.' The items included a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany brooch, and Graff earrings.
She was also convicted of accepting a gold turtle figurine worth 2.65 million won from a politician and a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth 39 million won from a 'robot dog' business entrepreneur.
Kim is already serving a four-year prison sentence for stock manipulation and bribery. Her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is also imprisoned for his attempt to impose martial law in 2024.
During her final trial hearing on May 15, prosecutors had sought a sentence of seven-and-a-half years, accusing her of 'trading in offices and favours' by leveraging her status as the president's spouse.
Kim maintained her innocence throughout the trial, arguing that while she received gifts, there were no requests for favours attached to them.
