THE former first lady Kim Keon-hee was sentenced to seven years in jail for receiving bribes, after a court found her guilty of accepting luxury items such as jewellery and a Dior handbag in exchange for political favours.
The wife of ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol – who was ousted in 2025 following his failed attempt to impose martial law – received the bribes before and during his presidency, the lead judge at the Seoul Central District Court said.
“She exercised her power as first lady to offer jobs and business favours,” the judge said, citing her willingness to use her influence to help people obtain key government or parliamentary posts.
“She received without any hesitation those bribes, which ordinary people would hardly encounter during their lives.”
The list of bribes included jewellery such as a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany brooch and a pair of Graff earrings, the judge said.
Kim also received a gold turtle, a Dior handbag, a Vacheron Constantin watch worth 39 million won (RM104,320) and a painting worth 140 million won (RM373,100), he said.
The judge said the actions of the former first lady seriously hurt public trust in the fairness of public appointments.
Those who gave her bribes included a construction company owner who sought a government post for his son-in-law, a pastor seeking to expand his network with high-ranking officials, the former head of a private university and the chief executive of a robotic dog retailer who wanted to supply products to the presidential security team, the judge said.
The court also fined Kim 64.8 million won (RM172,700) and ordered the confiscation of items given as bribes if they could be located.
Kim has denied all the charges.
She had maintained her innocence, arguing that while she did receive gifts, there were no requests for favours attached to them.
Her lawyer told reporters she would appeal the ruling, accusing the judge of exaggerating evidence unfavourable to Kim, the Yonhap news agency reported.
The former first lady is currently in jail after being found guilty on charges of stock manipulation and receiving bribes from South Korea’s Unification Church. She was sentenced to four years in jail on these charges in April.
A self-proclaimed animal lover known for her campaigns to ban the dog meat trade in South Korea, she was at the centre of several scandals that often eclipsed her husband’s tenure in office.
Her husband Yoon was sentenced to life in prison in February for masterminding an insurrection tied to his short-lived imposition of martial law in 2024. — Reuters/AFP
