South Korean court jails former first lady for seven years in bribery case

South Korea's former First Lady, Kim Keon Hee, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court for accepting bribes, including luxury items, in exchange for political favors. The court found her guilty of receiving jewelry, a designer handbag, and other gifts from individuals seeking jobs and business advantages. Lead judge Cho Sun-pyo stated that Kim exercised her power as first lady to offer these favors and received the bribes without hesitation. She was also fined and ordered to forfeit the received items. Kim denies the charges and plans to appeal. This sentence is in addition to a previous four-year sentence she received for stock manipulation and bribery.

A South Korean court has sentenced former first lady Kim Keon-hee to an additional seven years in prison for her involvement in a jobs-for-gifts scandal. The 53-year-old was found guilty of accepting high-value precious metals in exchange for favors related to personnel appointments. The court noted her "unhesitating" acceptance of valuables that are difficult for ordinary citizens to obtain. This new sentence is in addition to a four-year sentence she is already serving for stock manipulation and bribery. Kim was indicted in December on charges including accepting jewelry worth approximately $67,000 from a construction magnate in 2022.