Kim Keonhee Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison in Appeal Trial

[Anchor]

Kim Keonhee, who was put on trial on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for public office appointments, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison in her appeal trial. Her prison term was reduced by 2 years from the first trial after some of the charges involving the acceptance of valuables were overturned as not guilty.

Reporter Jang Hun-gyeong has the story.

[Reporter]

[The defendant is sentenced to 5 years in prison.]

The Seoul High Court sentenced Kim Keonhee, who was tried on charges of mediating bribery, to 5 years in prison.

The sentence was reduced by 2 years from the 7-year prison term handed down in the first trial. Unlike the first trial, the court ruled her not guilty on charges of receiving a luxury watch worth 39.9 million won along with a request for business support from robot dog businessman Seo Seong-bin, and receiving a reproduction of Seehando worth 500,000 won from former National Education Commission Chairperson Lee Bae-yong.

However, the court found her guilty of charges including receiving approximately 100 million won worth of jewelry, the so-called NATO 3-piece set, from Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan in exchange for a request regarding the appointment of her eldest son-in-law, and receiving an expensive painting from former senior prosecutor Kim Sang-min in exchange for a request for nomination.

The court ordered the confiscation of the expensive jewelry and painting, along with an additional collection of 24.4 million won, defining the case as power-type mediation bribery.

The court reprimanded Kim, stating, "She accepted valuables without hesitation, completely forgetting her status," and added, "The influence of the president's spouse was reduced to private transactions, and the transparency and fairness of overall state affairs were severely undermined."

[The disappointment and frustration felt by the public, having witnessed the risk of state power being exercised according to the interests of those who provided valuables, can never be healed by any means.]

Throughout the trial, Kim kept her head down and stared at the floor, only to speak with her attorney after the guilty and not-guilty rulings were delivered.

Immediately following the sentencing, Kim's legal team stated, "We will immediately appeal the guilty portion," while the special counsel team stated, "We will decide whether to appeal after reviewing the ruling."

(Video footage by Kim Hangyul | Video editing by Cho Moo-hwan)

※