Special Prosecutor Requests 7 Years and 6 Months in Prison for Kim Keon-hee Over 'Bribery for Favors'

Yonhap News Agency

The special prosecutor has requested a prison sentence of seven years and six months for First Lady Kim Keon-hee, who has been indicted on charges of receiving various high-value jewelry as well as requests for personnel appointments and business favors.

On the 15th, the team led by Special Prosecutor Min Jungki asked the court to issue this sentence during the final trial proceedings at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Cho Soonpyo) for Kim's case, which concerns charges of aggravated bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

In addition, the special prosecutor requested the court to confiscate items found to have been accepted by Kim, including a painting by artist Lee Ufan, a gold turtle, a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, and a Dior bag. They also asked for an order to collect an additional 56.3 million won, corresponding to the value of other items such as a Vacheron Constantin watch.

According to the special prosecutor, Kim Keon-hee is believed to have received these valuables intensively from immediately after President Yoon Suk Yeol's election victory through the early part of his term.

Kim is accused of receiving jewelry worth a total of 103.8 million won—including a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, a Tiffany & Co. brooch, and Graff earrings—from Lee Bonggwan, Chairman of Sehee Construction, along with a request for a high-level appointment for his eldest son-in-law between March 15 and May 20, 2022. She is also charged with accepting a gold turtle worth 2.65 million won from Lee Bae-yong, former chairperson of the National Education Commission, along with a request for an appointment, and a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch valued at 39 million won from a robot dog entrepreneur surnamed Seo, in exchange for a request for business support.

The indictment also includes allegations that, between June and September 2022, Kim received a Dior bag and other items worth a total of 5.4 million won from Pastor Choi Jaeyoung along with a request related to official duties, and that around February 2023, she accepted a painting by Lee Ufan worth 140 million won from former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Sangmin in connection with a request for a nomination.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.