The Seoul Central District Court has handed a seven-year prison sentence to Kim Keon Hee, the former first lady of South Korea, following her conviction on bribery charges. Presiding judges determined that Kim leveraged her proximity to power to accept an array of luxury gifts—including high-end jewelry, a Dior handbag, and a costly painting—in exchange for securing government appointments and business opportunities for associates. The court condemned her actions, noting that she exploited her status to facilitate favors for various figures, ranging from construction magnates to religious leaders, which significantly undermined public confidence in the integrity of state administration.

In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a fine of 64.8 million won and mandated the forfeiture of all bribe-related assets. This ruling adds to an already mounting legal crisis for the former presidential family; Kim is currently serving a four-year sentence for separate convictions related to stock manipulation and financial misconduct, while her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is serving a life sentence for his involvement in a failed 2024 martial law insurrection. Despite the severity of the verdict, Kim’s legal team continues to maintain her innocence, asserting that the court relied on biased interpretations of the evidence and confirming plans to challenge the decision through an appeal.