Kim Keon-hee Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison in First Trial for Bribery; Court Cites 'Unhesitating' Acceptance of Gifts

Kim Keon-hee, the former first lady of South Korea, has been handed a seven-year prison sentence in her initial trial on charges of bribery. The court found her guilty of accepting money and valuables from business figures in exchange for political favors, a scheme referred to as 'selling positions.' The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21 stated that Kim 'unhesitatingly' accepted a wide range of items, from alcohol to luxury art pieces, which are beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.

The court ordered the confiscation of several items seized during the investigation, including a painting by artist Lee Woo-hwan, an empty Vacheron Constantin watch box, a gold turtle-shaped container, a Tiffany brooch, and a Dior bag. Additionally, a fine of 64.8 million won was imposed.

This verdict comes after the special prosecutor's office had sought a sentence of seven years and six months, along with the confiscation of a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and a fine of 56 million won. The charges stem from allegations that Kim received payments between March and May 2022 from Lee Bong-kwan, chairman of Seohee Construction, in return for facilitating business favors.

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The defendant received a variety of items, from alcoholic beverages worth hundreds of thousands of won to cosmetics worth millions of won, gold turtles, and art pieces worth hundreds of millions of won. The defendant unhesitatingly accepted expensive items that ordinary people could never obtain in their lifetime from others.