Seoul, 26 June (H.S.): South Korea's former First Lady Kim Keon Hee was on Friday sentenced to seven years in prison for accepting expensive gifts in exchange for influencing government appointments and other official matters.

According to South Korea's state-run Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court found Kim guilty under the country's law prohibiting bribery through the use of influence.

Kim is the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The special counsel team led by Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki, which investigated the case, had sought a prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years.

According to the prosecution, Kim accepted luxury gifts worth more than 100 million won (approximately ₹61.36 lakh) from the chairman of a construction company between March and May 2022. The gifts included an expensive necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels. Prosecutors alleged that the gifts were offered in return for assistance in securing a government appointment.

The investigation also found that in April 2022, Kim accepted a gold turtle-shaped ornament from former National Education Commission chief Lee Bae-yong in connection with a request for a government appointment. She is also accused of receiving a Vacheron Constantin luxury watch from an entrepreneur in September 2022 and a painting by renowned artist Lee Ufan from a former prosecutor in February 2023.

The special counsel's team further alleged that in 2022, Kim accepted a Dior handbag worth 5.4 million won from a pastor. The transaction became public the following year, triggering a major political controversy in South Korea.

During the proceedings, prosecutors argued that Kim had misused her position and influence as the President's wife for personal gain by accepting expensive gifts in exchange for exercising influence.

Notably, an appellate court last month also sentenced Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison in a separate corruption-related case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar