Judge Upholds Suspended Jail Terms and Fines in Kim Keon‑hee Corruption Case

Seoul – On June 26, a judge at the Seoul Central District Court affirmed suspended prison sentences and monetary penalties for individuals implicated in a bribery scheme involving former First Lady Kim Keon‑hee.

The court ordered a one‑year suspended term for a construction firm CEO who gave Kim jewelry worth roughly 10 million won, seeking a government job for his son‑in‑law.

A separate suspended sentence of ten months was handed to a businessman who presented Kim with a Vacheron Constantin watch, allegedly to secure commercial benefits.

Additionally, a priest was fined 800,000 won for gifting a Dior handbag valued at 5.4 million won.

Both the prosecution and defence chose not to pursue further appeals, rendering the judgments definitive.