South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to seven years in prison on Friday (26 June) after a court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts in return for political favours.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Kim, the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, accepted bribes before and during her husband's time in office. Yoon was removed from office in 2025 following his failed attempt to impose martial law.
The court said Kim used her position as first lady to influence appointments and help people secure government and parliamentary jobs.
"She exercised her power as first lady to offer jobs and business favours," the lead judge said.
"She received without any hesitation those bribes, which ordinary people would hardly encounter during their lives."
The gifts included a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany brooch, Graff earrings, a Dior handbag, a gold turtle, a Vacheron Constantin watch worth 39 million won (US$25,349.86), and a painting valued at 140 million won.
The judge said Kim's actions had seriously damaged public trust in the fairness of government appointments.
According to the court, those who gave her gifts included a construction company owner seeking a government role for his son-in-law, a pastor hoping to build ties with senior officials, the former head of a private university, and the chief executive of a robotic dog retailer who wanted to supply equipment to the presidential security service.
The court also fined Kim 64.8 million won and ordered that the bribes be confiscated if they could be recovered.
Kim denied all the charges. Her lawyer said she would appeal the verdict, accusing the judge of overstating the evidence against her, according to Yonhap News Agency.
She is already serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted in April on separate charges of stock manipulation and accepting bribes linked to South Korea's Unification Church.
Her husband, Yoon, was sentenced to life imprisonment in February after being found guilty of leading an insurrection linked to his brief declaration of martial law in 2024.
Canadian measures aimed at preventing terrorist financing can obstruct legitimate humanitarian work by Muslim charities, particularly when aid is d...
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a significant reduction in planned joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and his rel...
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar den...
Wildfires across England and Wales have reached their highest level on record, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council, as firefighters struggle to contain outbreaks following a spell of extreme heat.
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots. It said it had found the remains of one pilot after an airspace violation and had contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
A wildfire in Croatia driven by strong winds descended on the tourist town of Omis overnight, engulfing houses, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate to safety and injuring dozens, fire brigade and health officials said on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, who said the sea passage "cannot be seized by tweet."
At least 47 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, triggering small tsunami waves and dozens of aftershocks, officials say.
Canadian measures aimed at preventing terrorist financing can obstruct legitimate humanitarian work by Muslim charities, particularly when aid is destined for countries considered high-risk, according to a new study.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a significant reduction in planned joint military exercises with South Korea, citing their cost and his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Firefighters are battling Belgium’s largest wildfire on record, with a blaze in the High Fens nature reserve burning around 3,000 hectares of land and spreading towards the German border, local authorities said.
A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Moscow region killed at least one person and damaged a warehouse belonging to online retailer Wildberries, Russian officials said, as both sides continue targeting infrastructure during the war.
Strong winds and torrential rain are lashing Hawaii after Hurricane Lala skirted the Big Island, prompting warnings of flooding, mudslides, and storm surge.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment