[Anchor]

As previously reported, the court has ordered the forfeiture of the so-called "NATO three-piece set" received by Kim Keon-hee and found her guilty on all related charges. Although Kim claimed to have returned some of the luxury items, the court did not accept this argument.

Jang Hun-gyeong reports.

[Reporter]

In June 2022, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on his first overseas trip to attend the NATO summit, Kim Keon-hee was seen wearing extravagant jewelry.

These items, dubbed the "NATO three-piece set," included a necklace worth 55.6 million won, which was received just six days after former President Yoon's election, as well as earrings and a brooch worth over 20 million won, all of which were provided by Lee Bong-kwan, chairman of Seohee Construction, within one to two months of the election.

While Kim's side argued that these were gifts to congratulate the election victory, Chairman Lee submitted a voluntary confession to the special counsel team stating that the items were given in exchange for a request regarding his son-in-law's personnel appointment.

[Lee Bong-kwan/Chairman of Seohee Construction (September 2025): (Regarding the claim that Kim Keon-hee did not know your son-in-law, did you speak about the contents mentioned in your confession?) ......]

The court also determined that a quid pro quo relationship existed regarding the jewelry Kim received from Chairman Lee.

The court cited evidence such as Kim asking the chairman if there was anything she could help with after receiving the jewelry, and the fact that his son-in-law was subsequently appointed as the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.

[Cho Soon-pyo/Presiding Judge, Criminal Agreement Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court: Instead of refusing or drawing a line regarding Lee Bong-kwan's personnel request, she used her influence to accept it...]

The court emphasized that "the public decision-making process became intertwined with money and valuables, degrading into a transaction for Kim's personal gain."

The court did not recognize the fact that Kim had returned or deposited some of the jewelry.

[Cho Soon-pyo/Presiding Judge, Criminal Agreement Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court: Considering the circumstances, timing of the return, and timing of the deposit, we do not consider this as a mitigating factor for Kim Keon-hee.]

The court sentenced Chairman Lee to one year in prison, suspended for two years, noting his cooperation with the investigation, including the voluntary submission of evidence.

(Video Editing: Ahn Yeo-jin)