Kim Keon Hee faces 7.5-yr prison term in South Korea bribery trial
Synopsis
South Korea's special counsel has asked for 7.5 years in prison for former first lady Kim Keon Hee — and that is on top of a four-year sentence already handed down in a separate corruption case last month. The twin legal proceedings against both an ex-president and his wife represent an unprecedented moment of accountability in South Korean politics.
Key Takeaways
Special counsel Min Joong-ki sought a 7.5-year prison term for former first lady Kim Keon Hee at the final hearing on 16 May 2025 .
Kim is accused of receiving luxury gifts worth over 100 million won (US$66,700) in exchange for government appointments and favours.
Alleged gifts include a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace , a Vacheron Constantin watch , a Lee Ufan painting , and a Dior bag worth 5.4 million won .
Kim was separately sentenced to four years in prison by an appeals court last month in a distinct corruption case.
The verdict in the bribery trial is expected from the Seoul Central District Court in the coming weeks.
Former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee faces a 7.5-year prison sentence after a special counsel team made the sentencing recommendation at the final hearing of her bribery trial at the Seoul Central District Court on Friday, 16 May 2025. Kim, the wife of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, is accused of receiving luxury gifts worth over 100 million won (approximately US$66,700) in exchange for government favours and appointments.
What the Charges Allege
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team has charged Kim with violating South Korean law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation. The prosecution alleges that between March and May 2022, Kim received jewellery — including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace — from the chairman of a construction company, along with a request to secure a government position for his son-in-law.
Separately, she allegedly received a golden turtle ornament from Lee Bae-yong, former head of the National Education Commission, in April 2022, reportedly in exchange for facilitating his appointment to the position. Kim is also suspected of accepting a Vacheron Constantin watch from an entrepreneur in September 2022 and a painting by celebrated artist Lee Ufan from a former prosecutor in February 2023.
The Dior Bag Controversy
Among the most publicly scrutinised allegations is the alleged acceptance of a Dior bag worth 5.4 million won from a pastor in 2022. The exchange sparked a significant political controversy when it was first reported by the media the following year, drawing widespread criticism over the ethical conduct of those close to the presidency.
What the Special Counsel Said
'The defendant, while holding a position close to the president, used that influence for transactions for personal interests,' the special counsel team stated at the hearing, underscoring the prosecution's argument that Kim leveraged her proximity to power for private gain.
Separate Conviction Already on Record
This bribery trial is not Kim's only legal exposure. Last month, an appeals court sentenced her to four years in prison in a separate corruption case, adding to the mounting legal pressure on the former first lady. The dual proceedings mark an extraordinary moment in South Korean political history, with both a former president and his spouse facing serious criminal liability simultaneously.
What Happens Next
The Seoul Central District Court is expected to deliver its verdict in the bribery case in the coming weeks. A conviction and sentence close to the prosecution's recommendation would represent one of the most consequential legal outcomes for a South Korean first family in recent memory, and will be closely watched as a barometer of judicial independence in the country's post-Yoon political landscape.
Point of View
A second sentencing recommendation now on the table — is without modern precedent for a South Korean first family. What mainstream coverage underplays is the systemic question: South Korean law does not formally regulate the conduct of presidential spouses, a gap that Kim's case has exposed in sharp relief. The special counsel's framing — that she 'used influence for transactions for personal interests' — is also a political indictment of the informal power structures around the Yoon presidency. Whether the court matches the prosecution's 7.5-year ask will signal how far South Korea's judiciary is willing to go in drawing accountability lines around the first family as an institution, not just an individual.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kim Keon Hee accused of in the bribery trial?
Kim Keon Hee is accused of receiving luxury gifts worth over 100 million won — including jewellery, a watch, a painting, and a designer bag — from businessmen, a pastor, and a former prosecutor, in exchange for facilitating government appointments and other favours. The charges relate to violations of South Korean law on accepting bribes for mediation.
How much prison time has the special counsel sought for Kim Keon Hee?
Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team has recommended a 7.5-year prison sentence at the final hearing of the bribery trial held at the Seoul Central District Court on 16 May 2025. The court is yet to deliver its verdict.
Has Kim Keon Hee been convicted in any other case?
Yes. Last month, an appeals court sentenced Kim to four years in prison in a separate corruption trial. The bribery trial is a distinct legal proceeding running concurrently.
Who is Kim Keon Hee?
Kim Keon Hee is the wife of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached. She has been at the centre of multiple legal and political controversies, including the widely reported acceptance of a Dior bag from a pastor in 2022.
When will the court verdict in the bribery case be delivered?
The Seoul Central District Court is expected to announce its verdict in the coming weeks following the final hearing on 16 May 2025. A sentence close to the prosecution's 7.5-year recommendation would be one of the most significant legal outcomes for a South Korean first family in recent history.
