Former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who was indicted on charges of "selling government posts" by receiving various expensive pieces of jewelry along with personnel and business favors, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty on all counts in her first trial.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 21 (presided over by Senior Judge Cho Soon-pyo) on Friday (June 26) sentenced Kim, who was brought to trial on charges of influence peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to seven years in prison.

The sentence is six months shorter than the seven years and six months demanded by the special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki.

Lee Bong-kwan, chairman of Seohee Construction, who was tried alongside Kim on charges of offering money and goods to make requests, was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for two years. Robot dog entrepreneur Seo Seong-bin was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years, while Pastor Choi Jae-young was fined 8 million won.

The court found Kim guilty on all charges of receiving approximately 300 million won worth of money and valuables in exchange for brokering various favors.

The court also found Chairman Lee, Seo, and Pastor Choi guilty of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Specifically, the court ruled that Kim received jewelry worth a total of 103.8 million won, including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany & Co. brooch, and Graff earrings, from Chairman Lee between March 15 and May 20, 2022, along with a request for a personnel favor for his eldest son-in-law.

The court also found it to be true that she received a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth 39.9 million won from Seo in September of the same year, along with a request for business support, and a Dior bag and other items worth a total of 5.4 million won from Pastor Choi between June and September, along with requests related to public officials' duties.

Furthermore, the court concluded that Kim was guilty of receiving a gold turtle and a replica of the painting "Seohando" worth 2.65 million won from Lee Bae-yong, former chairperson of the National Education Commission, on April 26, 2022, along with a request for appointment, and a painting by artist Lee Ufan worth 140 million won from former Chief Prosecutor Kim Sang-min around February of the following year, along with a request for political nomination.

Explaining the reasons for sentencing, the court rebuked Kim, saying, "The Defendant ignored the social responsibilities required of the position of First Lady and instead used it merely as a means to pursue private interests."

It added, "Among those who can be subject to influence peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, the position of the president's spouse carries the most significant influence," pointing out that "since she was in a position where various requests and interests easily converge, she should have exercised self-restraint and been exceptionally vigilant more than anyone else."

The court continued to criticize, stating, "The Defendant received expensive items, which ordinary citizens would find difficult to acquire even once in a lifetime, without much hesitation," and "The fact that figures from various sectors of society approached the Defendant with their respective requests and provided money and goods shows that an informal structure of solicitation surrounding the Defendant was widely formed across society."

The court emphasized, "The public decision-making process, which should have been fair and transparent, became linked with money and goods, degenerating into an object of transaction for the Defendant's personal gain," adding, "The harm goes beyond simple receipt of money and goods, fundamentally undermining the fairness and credibility of public decision-making."

The court also stated, "As the investigation intensified, the Defendant evaded responsibility by belatedly returning some of the items with the excuse of 'thanking them for lending it' or claiming she purchased them herself," adding, "This shows that she was fully aware of the illegality of her actions yet attempted to cover them up."

Following the sentencing, The Attorney representing Kim told reporters, "The court excessively expanded circumstances unfavorable to the Defendant," adding, "We will carefully review the ruling and appeal."

The special counsel team led by Min Joong-ki, which was in charge of the investigation and prosecution, welcomed the ruling, saying, "We believe a proper judgment that aligns with the public's sense of justice has been delivered."

Kim was previously indicted on the "three major suspicions," including the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation (Distorted), receiving money and goods from Geonjin Beopsa and the Unification Church, and receiving free public opinion polls from Myung Tae-kyun. She was sentenced to four years in prison in the second trial and has appealed to the Supreme Court.

Kim, who was also handed over to trial on charges related to the collective joining of the People Power Party by members of the Unification Church, is scheduled to face her first trial hearing on August 14.

(Photo: Yonhap News)