Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment after a court found her guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for political favours.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Kim received luxury items, including jewellery, a designer handbag and other valuable gifts from individuals seeking government appointments and business advantages.
According to the court, Kim used her influence as First Lady to facilitate jobs and business-related favours for those who provided the gifts. She was also fined 64.8 million won (about $42,000), while the court ordered the confiscation of the items linked to the bribery case.
Kim denied the allegations and has indicated plans to appeal the judgment through her legal team.
The conviction adds to her legal troubles, as she is already serving a separate four-year prison sentence handed down earlier for stock manipulation and bribery-related offences.
Her husband, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, is also currently serving a life sentence following his conviction over actions linked to a military drone operation and the declaration of martial law in 2024.
The latest ruling marks another major development in South Korea's ongoing efforts to hold public officials and political figures accountable for corruption and abuse of office.
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