A South Korean appeals court reduced former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison term from seven years to five, while leaving most of her convictions over luxury gifts and political favors intact.
The Seoul High Court rejected part of the prosecution case, including an allegation tied to a luxury watch, after finding the evidence did not establish the required exchange of a gift for official influence. It nevertheless upheld findings involving other valuables, among them jewelry, a Dior handbag, a gold ornament and a painting. The case concerns gifts prosecutors said were supplied by people seeking appointments or assistance from the government during Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidency.
Kim has denied wrongdoing. Her lawyers said they would ask the Supreme Court to review the convictions that remain. Prosecutors also plan an appeal, preserving their challenge to the acquittals. The five-year term is therefore not final.
The judgment is one strand of a wider legal reckoning surrounding the former presidential household. Kim is separately appealing another prison sentence arising from allegations involving the Unification Church and stock trading. Yoon, removed from office after his brief declaration of martial law, is appealing his own conviction and life sentence for rebellion.
