South Korean Court Sentences Ex-First Lady Kim Keon Hee to Seven Years for Bribery

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison on June 26, 2026, after convicting her of bribery. Npr reported that Judge Jo Soon-pyo presided and stated that a president's spouse must exercise the highest degree of self-restraint, yet Kim repeatedly accepted valuables by exploiting her influence.

The court ordered confiscation of gifts including a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace, a Tiffany brooch, a Dior handbag, a storage case for a gold turtle figurine and a painting by Lee Ufan.

Npr reported that Kim was convicted of accepting items worth 138 million won from Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan in 2022, a luxury watch from Seo Seong-bin, a Dior handbag and other gifts from Pastor Choi Jae-yong, a gold turtle and traditional painting from Lee Bae-yong, and a Lee Ufan painting worth 140 million won from Kim Sang-min.

Lee Bong-kwan received a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years. Seo Seong-bin and Lee Bae-yong received suspended sentences, while Choi Jae-yong was fined 8 million won.

Npr reported that Kim admitted receiving the gifts but denied they were tied to favors, and her legal team said it would appeal. Kim was arrested in August 2025 and received a separate four-year sentence in April 2026 in a case involving Unification Church gifts and stock manipulation.

Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office in April 2025 after impeachment over martial law imposed in December 2024, arrested in July 2025, and received a life sentence for rebellion plus a 30-year term for ordering drone flights over North Korea.

A special prosecutor indicted Kim in December 2025.