Kim Keon-hee Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for 'Selling Public Offices'… "All Charges Guilty"

[Anchor]

A court has sentenced Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, to seven years in prison for charges related to the sale of public offices. The court reprimanded Kim for using her position as First Lady as a means to pursue private interests.

Reporter An Huijae has the story.

[Reporter]

The court has found Kim Keon-hee guilty of all criminal charges related to the so-called sale of public offices.

The court recognized all charges that she received money and valuables in exchange for various favors from individuals including Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan, former National Education Committee Chairperson Lee Bae-yong, and former Chief Prosecutor Kim Sang-min.

In sentencing Kim to seven years in prison, the court also ordered the forfeiture of 64.8 million won in illicit gains, as well as the confiscation of items including a Van Cleef & Arpels "Nato 3-piece" necklace, a gold turtle, a painting by artist Lee Ufan, and a Dior bag.

[Jo Soon-pyo / Presiding Judge, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 21: The defendant, Kim Keon-hee, accepted high-priced items from others without any hesitation, items that ordinary citizens would find difficult to acquire even once in their lifetime.]

The court pointed out that the provision of money and valuables by figures from various sectors of society demonstrates that an unofficial structure of solicitation surrounding Kim had formed across society as a whole.

The court particularly emphasized that since the total amount Kim received exceeded 100 million won, she could have faced up to life imprisonment under bribery charges had she been a public official.

[Jo Soon-pyo / Presiding Judge, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 21: In that she ignored the social responsibilities required by the position of First Lady and merely utilized that position as a means to pursue private interests....]

Kim kept her head bowed throughout the trial, and was seen with a pained expression upon hearing the sentence.

Immediately after the sentencing, Kim's side expressed their intention to appeal, stating that "the court expanded its interpretation of circumstances unfavorable to the defendant," while the special counsel team welcomed the ruling, calling it "an appropriate judgment that aligns with the public's sense of justice."

(Video reporting: Yang Hyun-chul, Video editing: Kim Yoon-sung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.