Ex-first lady appeals 5-year bribery sentence to Supreme Court

Published Sep 23, 2026 11:48 am KST

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee's sentencing hearing on charges of accepting bribes for mediation is held at the court in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday appealed an appellate ruling sentencing her to five years in prison on bribery-related charges, taking the case to the Supreme Court, legal sources said.

The Seoul High Court convicted Kim, the wife of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of accepting bribes for mediation in a Tuesday ruling that partially overturned a lower court's seven-year sentence.

A special counsel team earlier indicted Kim on charges of receiving various expensive gifts from multiple people in return for job appointments and business favors between 2022 and 2023.

While a district court convicted her on all counts in June, the appellate court acquitted her of charges of receiving a luxury watch and a replica of a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) painting.

The special counsel team has also indicated that it plans to take the case to the top court.

发布于2026年9月23日上午11:48（韩国标准时间）

前第一夫人金建熙因涉嫌收受贿赂进行调解，周二在首尔南部法院接受量刑听证。韩联社

据法律界人士透露，前第一夫人金建熙周三对因受贿罪被判处五年监禁的上诉法院判决提出上诉，并将此案提交至最高法院。

首尔高等法院周二裁定，前总统尹锡悦的妻子金某因收受贿赂进行调解罪名成立，部分推翻了下级法院判处的七年有期徒刑。

此前，特别检察官小组指控金某在 2022 年至 2023 年间收受多人赠送的各种贵重礼物，以换取工作任命和商业利益。

虽然地方法院在 6 月份判处她所有罪名成立，但上诉法院宣判她无罪，罪名是收受名贵手表和朝鲜王朝（1392-1910 年）绘画复制品。

特别检察官团队也表示，他们计划将此案上诉至最高法院。