A Seoul court has sentenced former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison after finding her guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for job appointments and business favours.
The court ruled that Kim received luxury items, including jewelry and a Dior handbag, from individuals seeking government jobs and preferential treatment for their businesses. Prosecutors said the gifts were given to influence decisions during the administration of her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
In its judgment, the court said the conduct “undermined public trust in the office of the First Lady” and amounted to a serious breach of anti-corruption laws. The seven-year term is one of the heaviest sentences handed down to a former first lady in South Korea’s history.
Kim, who had denied wrongdoing, was taken into custody immediately after the verdict. Her legal team indicated they would appeal the ruling.
The case is part of a wider investigation into influence-peddling allegations linked to the former administration. Prosecutors have pursued several high-profile figures over claims of favoritism in hiring and state contracts.
South Korea has strict laws prohibiting public officials and their spouses from receiving gifts above a certain value. The scandal first came to light in 2024 after hidden-camera footage showed Kim accepting a Dior bag from a pastor, sparking months of political fallout.
The presidential office has not commented on Friday’s ruling.