South Korea ex‑first lady Kim Keon‑hee convicted in bribery case

Seoul’s Central District Court finalized the sentences in the bribery case involving former first lady Kim Keon‑hee. The court’s June 26 ruling, formally confirmed on July 6, gave Kim a seven‑year prison term for accepting roughly 300 million won in gifts and bribes in exchange for helping her son‑in‑law obtain a government job and for securing business advantages.

Three accomplices received suspended sentences and fines. A construction‑company chairman was given a one‑year suspended jail term after giving Kim jewelry worth about 1 crore won (≈ USD 64,750). A businessman received a ten‑month suspended term for gifting a Vacheron Constantin watch, and a priest was fined 800,000 won for providing a Dior handbag. Both Kim and the accomplices have not appealed the suspended‑sentence decisions, although Kim has appealed the conviction itself, and the case is now before an appellate court.