27.06.2026 12:10
In South Korea, a court sentenced Kim Keon Hee, the wife of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, to seven years in prison for accepting bribes in the form of expensive gifts in exchange for jobs and business favors. Kim was found to have accepted jewelry worth $65,000 from the son-in-law of a construction company chairman in return for providing him with a job at a public institution, and a branded bag worth approximately $3,500 from a pastor.
According to the report by South Korea-based Yonhap news agency, the Seoul Central District Court found Kim Keon Hee, the wife of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, guilty of receiving bribes in exchange for mediation in job appointments and commercial favors.
JEWELRY, BAG, WATCH...
Within the scope of the case, it was determined that Kim accepted jewelry worth $65,000 in exchange for providing a job at a public institution to the son-in-law of the chairman of a construction company, a gold turtle figurine for the appointment of former National Education Commission Chairman Lee Bae-yong, a branded bag worth approximately $3,500 from a pastor, and a watch from a businessperson.
EXPENSIVE GIFTS WORTH $194,000
The court sentenced Kim to 7 years in prison on the grounds that she received expensive gifts worth a total of $194,000 from various individuals between the period when her husband Yoon Suk Yeol took office in May 2022 and his removal from office in April 2025.
Kim Keon Hee had previously been sentenced to 4 years in prison in a different corruption case.
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN AUGUST 2025
Kim Keon Hee was taken into custody on August 12, 2025, following an arrest warrant issued on various charges including election interference and bribery. The charges against Kim, who faced allegations of violating the Capital Markets Act, the Political Funds Act, and laws regarding acceptance of bribes for mediation, included granting privileges to church officials and participating in a stock price manipulation scheme involving South Korea's BMW dealer Deutsch Motors during the 2009-2012 period.