A South Korean appeals court has reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison term from seven years to five while leaving in place most findings that she accepted luxury goods in exchange for political and business favors.
The Seoul High Court delivered the ruling on Tuesday. It overturned part of the trial judgment, including a charge tied to a luxury watch after finding the prosecution had not proved a sufficient exchange between the gift and an official favor. Other convictions involving jewelry, a Dior handbag, a gold turtle and a painting were upheld.
Kim’s lawyers said they would appeal the remaining convictions to the Supreme Court. Prosecutors also plan to appeal, challenging the acquittals. The five-year term is therefore not final.
The decision is separate from another case in which Kim received a four-year sentence over gifts connected to the Unification Church and stock-market manipulation. She is appealing that judgment as well.
The appeals court’s narrower analysis matters because bribery cases turn on more than the value or impropriety of a gift. Prosecutors must connect the benefit to the recipient’s public role and, depending on the charge, prove the requested or expected favor with sufficient specificity. The partial acquittal shows where the panel found that link missing.
Kim is the wife of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office after his martial-law declaration and is separately appealing a life sentence for rebellion. The proceedings against each defendant remain legally distinct.
