Seoul (HRNW)- A South Korean court has sentenced former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, to seven years in prison and imposed a £32,000 fine after finding her guilty of accepting expensive gifts as bribes and using her influence to secure government appointments and business favors.
According to international media reports, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Kim Keon-hee abused her position as First Lady by accepting luxury gifts in exchange for influence over government jobs, parliamentary positions and business interests.
In its verdict, the court stated that a person holding the position of the president’s spouse is expected to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and accountability, but Kim repeatedly accepted valuable gifts despite those responsibilities.
The court said the gifts included a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace, a Tiffany brooch, a luxury Dior handbag, Graff diamond earrings, a special case for a gold turtle statue, a painting by renowned Korean artist Lee Ufan, and a Vacheron Constantin watch valued at approximately £19,000.
According to court documents, the gifts were allegedly provided by individuals seeking government appointments, business advantages and improved access to senior officials. The court concluded that such actions undermined public confidence in the fairness and transparency of government institutions.
Kim Keon-hee has denied the allegations and announced that she will appeal the decision to South Korea’s highest court. Her legal team argues that the court overstated the evidence presented during the trial.
The conviction follows an earlier sentence handed down in April, when Kim was sentenced to four years in prison in a separate case involving stock price manipulation and bribery allegations linked to the Unification Church.
Meanwhile, her husband, former President Yoon Suk-yeol, also faces significant legal challenges. After declaring martial law during a political crisis in late 2024, he was impeached, removed from office, arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment on charges including sedition, abuse of power and other offenses. Additional legal proceedings against him remain pending.
The case marks an unprecedented chapter in South Korean politics, with both a former president and a former first lady serving prison sentences.
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