A South Korean appeals court has reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison sentence from seven years to five after partially overturning her convictions in a bribery case involving luxury gifts and alleged attempts to secure government appointments and favors.
The Seoul High Court ruled on Sept. 22 that Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, should receive a five-year prison term. The court acquitted her on some charges, including allegations involving a luxury Vacheron Constantin watch and a replica painting, while upholding convictions on other counts.
The case centers on expensive gifts Kim received while Yoon was president. Prosecutors had accused her of accepting jewelry worth more than 100 million won from a construction company chairman in connection with efforts to secure a government position for his son-in-law.
Other allegations involved a Dior handbag, a golden turtle ornament and a painting by renowned Korean artist Lee Ufan. The appeals court maintained convictions connected to several of those gifts, while ordering the confiscation of the items and reducing the amount of money subject to forfeiture to 24.4 million won.
Kim has denied wrongdoing. Her legal team said it would appeal the remaining convictions to South Korea’s Supreme Court, arguing that the evidence did not establish the alleged exchanges for favors. Prosecutors have also indicated that they are considering an appeal over the charges that were dismissed by the appeals court.
The ruling is another development in a series of legal cases involving Kim and her husband. Kim was separately sentenced by an appeals court to four years in another corruption case involving allegations connected to gifts from the Unification Church and stock-price manipulation, and that ruling is also being appealed.
Yoon, meanwhile, was removed from office in April 2025 after being impeached over his December 2024 declaration of martial law. He is facing multiple criminal cases, including a life sentence for rebellion that he is appealing.
The latest ruling does not end Kim’s legal battle. With both sides considering further appeals, the case is now headed toward another stage of scrutiny at South Korea’s Supreme Court.
