An appellate court in South Korea reduces former first lady Kim Keon Hee’s prison sentence in a bribery case involving alleged “jobs-for-gifts” arrangements. The Seoul High Court rules Tuesday and cuts her term from seven years to five years, partially overturning findings from a lower court.
Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, had been convicted in June after a lower court found she accepted bribes in the form of expensive items in return for mediation and access to government appointments. Prosecutors from a special counsel team accused her of receiving luxury goods, including jewelry worth more than 100 million won, and other high-value items such as a golden turtle ornament, a Dior bag, and a Vacheron Constantin watch. She was also accused of receiving a painting from a noted artist connected to a request for a nomination.
All accounts describe the same core conduct and outcome: the appellate court’s partial reversal and the final sentence of five years. One outlet emphasizes the pre-ruling schedule, while the others focus on the court’s decision and revised term.
