Why did the Seoul High Court reduce Kim Keon Hee’s sentence in her bribery case?

The appellate court partially overturned the lower court’s ruling and acquitted her of some charges. It still found her guilty on the remaining charges involving gifts taken in return for favors and appointments.

What gifts was Kim Keon Hee charged with receiving in the bribery trial?

She was accused of receiving jewelry worth over 100 million won, a golden turtle ornament, a replica of a Joseon Dynasty painting, a Dior bag, a Vacheron Constantin watch, and a painting by Lee Ufan. The court acquitted her only on the watch and the replica painting charges.

How much money did the court order Kim Keon Hee to forfeit after the appeal ruling?

The appellate court ordered forfeiture of 24.4 million won and confiscation of the gifts. That was lower than the 64.8 million won ordered by the lower court.

Appellate court reduces ex-first lady's sentence to 5 years in bribery trial

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Summary

An appellate court on Tuesday reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison sentence to five years in her bribery trial in Seoul. The Seoul High Court partially overturned a lower court’s seven-year sentence, acquitting her of some charges brought by special counsel Min Joong-ki. She was still found guilty on the remaining charges, and the court ordered confiscation of the gifts and forfeiture of 24.4 million won.

Key Facts

Kim was accused of receiving jewelry worth more than 100 million won from a construction company chairman between March and May 2022 in exchange for a government job for his son-in-law.
She was also accused of receiving a golden turtle ornament and a replica of a Joseon Dynasty painting from Lee Bae-yong in April 2022, a Dior bag from a pastor the same year, and a Vacheron Constantin watch from another businessperson in September 2022.
The court acquitted her of charges involving the luxury watch and the replica painting.
The lower court had ordered Kim to forfeit 64.8 million won, while the appellate court ordered forfeiture of 24.4 million won.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 22, 2026 9:21 am KST
Updated Sep 22, 2026 4:01 pm KST

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee enters a courtroom at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, Jan. 28, to attend her first trial on bribery and stock manipulation charges. Joint Press Corps

An appellate court on Tuesday reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee's sentence to five years in prison during her bribery trial on charges of taking expensive gifts in return for job appointments.

The Seoul High Court partially overturned a lower court's seven-year sentence for Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, acquitting her of some of the charges brought by special counsel Min Joong-ki.

Min's team earlier indicted Kim on charges of receiving jewelry worth a total of over 100 million won ($72,800) from a construction company chairman between March and May 2022 in exchange for a government job for his son-in-law.

She was also charged with receiving a golden turtle ornament and a replica of a Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) painting from Lee Bae-yong, former head of the National Education Commission in April 2022, in return for her appointment; a Dior bag from a pastor the same year; and a Vacheron Constantin watch from another businessperson in September 2022.

She was additionally accused of receiving a painting by renowned artist Lee Ufan from a former prosecutor in February 2023 in exchange for her help in securing him a nomination for an election.

While the lower court convicted her on all counts, the appellate court acquitted her of charges of receiving the luxury watch and the replica painting.

The appeals court found her guilty for the rest of the charges, ordering the confiscation of the gifts and forfeiture of 24.4 million won. The lower court had ordered Kim to forfeit 64.8 million won.

"The defendant repeatedly accepted valuables without hesitation, losing sight of her status as the spouse of the president," the court said.

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