Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee has been Jailed for another seven years after a court found her guilty in a jobs-for-gifts corruption case. The latest ruling adds to the four-year prison sentence she is already serving for separate convictions related to stock manipulation and bribery.
The South Korean court delivered its verdict on Friday after hearing evidence that Kim accepted expensive gifts in exchange for helping people secure government appointments. The decision was announced during a livestreamed court session.
Kim, 53, was found guilty of accepting high-value precious metals and luxury items in return for political favours. According to the court, she accepted valuables that most ordinary citizens would struggle to own in their lifetime.
The former first lady had already been serving a four-year prison sentence before receiving the new punishment. With the latest ruling, Kim has been Jailed for a much longer period as legal cases against her continue to grow.
Prosecutors said Kim accepted jewellery worth around 103 million won (approximately $67,000). The luxury gifts included a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany brooch, and Graff earrings. Investigators alleged these items were given to her by a construction businessman in 2022.
In return, prosecutors argued that Kim used her influence to help the businessman’s son-in-law obtain a government position. The court agreed that the gifts were connected to promises of official favours.
Kim was also convicted of accepting additional expensive items from other individuals. These included a gold turtle figurine worth 2.65 million won from a politician and a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch valued at 39 million won from a businessman involved in the robot dog industry.
During the final hearing on May 15, prosecutors requested a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years. They accused Kim of repeatedly using her position as the wife of then-president Yoon Suk Yeol to exchange influence for money, luxury gifts, and appointments.
Yoon Suk Yeol is also currently behind bars following his failed attempt to impose martial law in 2024. The political crisis attracted widespread criticism and placed the former presidential couple under intense public scrutiny.
Throughout the trial, Kim denied the allegations. She admitted receiving gifts but insisted they were personal presents and were not linked to requests for political favours or government appointments.
Kim was well known in South Korea for supporting campaigns to ban the dog-meat trade and promoting animal welfare. However, several controversies during her husband’s presidency often overshadowed her public work.
The latest decision means Kim has once again been Jailed, marking one of the country’s most significant corruption cases involving a former first lady. The ruling has renewed public debate about political accountability, misuse of influence, and transparency in public office.
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Legal experts believe the case sends a strong message that abuse of power and corruption will continue to face strict legal consequences, regardless of political status or public position.
