S. Korean former first lady Kim's prison term cut to 5 years on appeal

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean appellate court on Tuesday reduced the prison sentence for Kim Keon-hee, wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, to five years, cutting two years off a lower court's seven-year ruling for corruption, including the sale of government posts.

South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk-yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors, in Seoul, South Korea, Aug 12, 2025. (Photo: AP)

The Seoul High Court handed down the lighter sentence, acquitting her of some counts. The court ordered the confiscation of gifts offered to her, along with a forfeiture fine of 24.4 million won (about 18,000 U.S. dollars).

The team of Min Joong-ki, an independent counsel who led investigations into corruption allegations involving the former presidential couple, demanded a seven-year sentence for Kim for selling public offices in exchange for high-priced jewelry and luxury goods.

The court overturned a conviction regarding a luxury wristwatch, which Kim received from a robot dog entrepreneur in September 2022 in return for business favors.

The court also acquitted her of charges that she received a replica of a famous painting in exchange for personnel solicitation, citing a failure to prove the charges.

However, the court upheld all other corruption charges from the initial trial.

Kim was found guilty of accepting luxury jewelry, including a necklace, a brooch and earrings, from a businessman between March and May 2022 in return for the appointment of his eldest son-in-law to a government post.

She was convicted of receiving a designer bag and other luxury goods from a pastor between June and September 2022 in exchange for favors, and a gold turtle from a former chief of the national education commission in exchange for an appointment favor in April of the same year.

The court upheld the finding that Kim received a painting from a former prosecutor in February 2023 in return for political nomination favors.

Kim, who was indicted under detention in August 2025, became the first wife of a former South Korean president to be tried under detention.