Seoul High Court to Decide Fate of Ex-First Lady Over Gift Bribery Case

An appellate panel of the Seoul High Court is set to announce its decision on former first lady Kim Keon Hee's corruption case, where she was convicted by a lower court and sentenced to seven years in prison. The charges stem from her receipt of high-value gifts—including jewelry worth over 100 million won, a golden turtle ornament, a Dior handbag, a Vacheron Constantin watch, and a painting by Lee Ufan—allegedly in return for securing government jobs and other favors for relatives and associates.

The total value of the items is reported at roughly 300 million won. Kim has appealed the verdict, claiming she did not commit any wrongdoing. The special counsel team has asked the appellate court to confirm the seven-year term. The ruling, expected at 2 p.m., will determine whether the sentence stands.