SEOUL — The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former South Korean first lady Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison on June 26, 2026. The court convicted Kim of accepting luxury gifts from businesspeople and others seeking political and business favors.

Judge Jo Soon-pyo stated that given the nature of the position, a president's spouse must "exercise the highest degree of self-restraint and vigilance." He added, "Nevertheless, defendant Kim Keon Hee neglected that social responsibility and repeatedly accepted valuables by exploiting her influence as a means of brokering favors." The court also ordered the confiscation of the gifts Kim received.

Kim admitted to receiving the gifts but denied that they were tied to favors. She had been standing trial in multiple cases since her arrest in August 2025. A special prosecutor indicted Kim in December 2025 over various bribery charges.

The gifts included a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond necklace, a Tiffany brooch, a Dior handbag, a storage case for a gold turtle figurine, and a painting by Lee Ufan. The indictment alleged that Kim received a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and other jewelry items valued at 138 million won ($90,000) from Seohee Construction Chairman Lee Bong-kwan in 2022. This was allegedly in exchange for securing a government post for Lee's son-in-law. The court gave Lee Bong-kwan a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Kim was convicted of accepting a luxury watch from businessman Seo Seong-bin, who sought government support for his robotic dogs business. She was also convicted of accepting a Dior handbag and other gifts from Pastor Choi Jae-yong, who sought to join a civilian diplomatic delegation and various government-funded programs. Furthermore, Kim was convicted of accepting a gold turtle and a traditional painting from former National Education Commission chief Lee Bae-yong, who lobbied for her appointment.

The court also found Kim guilty of accepting a painting by Lee Ufan worth 140 million won ($90,900) from former senior prosecutor Kim Sang-min, who sought the conservative party's nomination for the 2024 legislative elections. The court gave Seo Seong-bin and Lee Bae-yong suspended prison sentences, while Choi Jae-yong was fined 8 million won ($5,200).

In a separate case, an appeals court previously sentenced Kim to four years in prison. That case involved charges of accepting gifts from the Unification Church and profiting from a stock price manipulation scheme.