Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to Seven More Years in Prison Over Gifts-for-Favours Scandal

 Seoul, South Korea – June 2026

Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison after a Seoul court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts and valuables in exchange for political favours and influence.

The latest conviction adds to the legal troubles surrounding South Korea's former presidential couple and marks another dramatic chapter in one of the country's most significant political corruption scandals in recent years.

Court Finds Former First Lady Accepted Luxury Gifts

According to the ruling delivered on Friday, the court determined that Kim accepted a series of expensive gifts from individuals seeking government appointments, business opportunities, and political influence.

The items cited during the trial reportedly included:

• A luxury Dior handbag;
• A Van Cleef & Arpels necklace;
• A Tiffany brooch;
• Graff earrings;
• A Vacheron Constantin watch reportedly worth 39 million won;
• A gold turtle;
• A painting valued at approximately 140 million won.

Prosecutors argued that the gifts were provided in exchange for political access and favourable treatment.

MORE TOP STORIES

Andy Burnham Leads UK PM Race in New Poll as Public Confidence Surpasses Badenoch and Farage

Abuse of Position, Court Says

The court concluded that Kim used her position as first lady to assist certain individuals in obtaining:

• Government appointments;
• Parliamentary positions;
• Business opportunities;
• Access to senior officials and influential figures.

In its ruling, the court stated that the conduct had seriously damaged public confidence in the integrity and fairness of public office.

The judge reportedly described the case as an abuse of political influence that undermined trust in government institutions.

Individuals Linked to the Alleged Bribes

Among those accused of providing gifts to Kim were:

• A construction company owner allegedly seeking a government appointment for his son-in-law;
• A pastor reportedly attempting to build connections with senior government figures;
• A former university president;
• The chief executive of a robotic dog retail company allegedly seeking contracts with South Korea's presidential security service.

The court found that several of these gifts were linked to requests for assistance or political intervention.

Additional Penalties Imposed

In addition to the seven-year prison sentence, the court ordered:

• A fine of 64.8 million won;
• The confiscation of any assets or gifts determined to be connected to the bribery scheme, where possible.

Legal experts say the financial penalties are intended to ensure that no benefits are retained from the unlawful conduct.

Kim Keon Hee Denies Wrongdoing

Kim has consistently denied the allegations.

Her legal team announced plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that the court gave excessive weight to certain evidence and that prosecutors failed to prove several elements of the case beyond reasonable doubt.

The appeal process could take months and may eventually reach South Korea's higher courts.

Already Serving Prison Sentence

The former first lady is already serving a four-year prison sentence following a separate conviction earlier this year involving:

• Stock price manipulation;
• Acceptance of improper gifts and benefits;
• Alleged links to figures associated with South Korea's Unification Church.

The latest sentence significantly extends her potential time behind bars.

Former President Also Imprisoned

The ruling comes amid broader legal fallout involving South Korea's former leadership.

Kim's husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in connection with events surrounding his controversial attempt to impose martial law in 2024.

The convictions of both the former president and first lady have sent shockwaves through South Korean politics and sparked renewed debate about ethics, accountability, and corruption among the country's political elite.

Political Impact

The scandal has once again placed issues of corruption and political influence at the centre of South Korea's national conversation.

Analysts say the case could have lasting consequences, including:

• Increased scrutiny of political donations and gifts;
• Calls for stronger anti-corruption measures;
• Greater oversight of the activities of presidential families;
• Renewed public demands for government transparency and accountability.

A Landmark Corruption Case

The conviction of a former first lady on corruption-related charges is considered one of the most significant political legal cases in recent South Korean history.

As appeals move forward, the case is likely to remain a major topic of public debate and could influence future reforms aimed at preventing abuses of power within the country's highest offices.