The Seoul High Court found Kim guilty of most of the charges and ordered the confiscation of certain items along with the forfeiture of 20.44 million won (US$15,000).
But the court overturned some of the lower court's findings including those involving a luxury watch and an artwork, after determining that there was insufficient evidence that some of the gifts were given in exchange for favors.
In a lower court ruling in June, Kim was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to forfeit 60.48 million won.
The case arose from allegations that Kim used her position as the wife of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol to receive luxury goods and other valuables in exchange for favors involving government nominations and appointments, official duties and other forms of support.
Kim, who served as first lady from 2022 until Yoon's ouster from office in April 2025, several months after his short-lived Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, also faced a series of controversies including allegations of stock-price manipulation and academic plagiarism.
AJP Takeaways
- Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to five years in prison by the Seoul High Court on September 22, 2026, after the appellate court reduced her seven-year sentence imposed by a lower court.
- The Seoul High Court found Kim Keon Hee guilty of most bribery-related charges but overturned some findings involving a luxury watch and artwork due to insufficient evidence linking the gifts to favors.
- The Seoul High Court ordered Kim Keon Hee to forfeit 20.44 million won, down from the 60.48 million won forfeiture ordered by the lower court in June 2026.
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