Special Prosecutor: “Seven Years in Prison Is Not Enough for Kim Keon Hee... Her Status as the President’s Spouse Must Be Considered”

[Financial News] Kim Keon Hee, who is accused of receiving various valuables, including a “golden turtle,” in exchange for requests involving personnel appointments and preferential treatment, was again given a requested sentence of seven years in prison at her appeal trial, the same as in the first trial. Her defense argued that the sentence, which is near the upper end of the sentencing guidelines for the offense of receiving money or valuables in exchange for influence, was excessive. However, Special Prosecutor Kim Kun-hee countered that Kim Keon Hee could not be viewed as an ordinary person.
On the 9th, the special prosecutor asked the Seoul High Court to sentence Kim Keon Hee to seven years in prison during a hearing in her appeal trial on charges of receiving money or valuables in exchange for influence under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The hearing was presided over by a three-judge panel comprising High Court Judges Sung Eon-ju, Won Ik-seon and Lee Hee-jun.
Kim Keon Hee is accused of receiving valuables worth approximately 103.8 million won from Lee Bong-gwan, chairman of Seohee Construction, between March and May 2022. The items included a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and Graff earrings, allegedly in exchange for business assistance and a request concerning the appointment of Park Sung-geun, her eldest son-in-law and former chief of staff to the prime minister.
She is also accused of receiving a golden turtle and a replica of Sehando, worth a combined market value of approximately 2.65 million won, from former National Education Commission Chair Lee Bae-yong in April and June of the same year in exchange for a personnel appointment request. In September, she allegedly received a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth approximately 39.9 million won from Seo Sung-bin, CEO of Drone Dome, in exchange for a business-related request.
In June, the first trial court found a quid pro quo relationship between all the valuables Kim Keon Hee received and the requests made to her, and sentenced her to seven years in prison. Her defense has acknowledged that she received the items but continues to deny that they were given in exchange for favors. The defense argues that she was unaware of any requests and that it is inaccurate to say she granted favors in return for the items. It also maintained that a seven-year sentence for the offense of receiving money or valuables in exchange for influence would be excessively harsh even under the sentencing guidelines.
The special prosecutor argued that the circumstances showed that Lee Bae-yong, Seo Sung-bin, Kim Sang-min and Abraham Choi each expected Kim Keon Hee to use her position and influence for their respective business or political needs and pending issues. In particular, the prosecution said Kim Keon Hee occupied a position unlike that of an ordinary influence peddler or broker, ranging from “the wife of a presidential candidate likely to win the election” to “the incumbent first lady.”
The special prosecutor stated, “Although she was indicted for the offense of receiving money or valuables in exchange for influence, the lawmakers who enacted this law could not have drafted it while envisioning the extraordinary circumstance of a ‘president’s spouse.’” The prosecution added, “Can we really say that the social shock and damage to public trust caused by the defendant’s crimes were less serious than those caused when a high-ranking official, such as a minister, commits a similar crime?”
The prosecution continued, “Even if we assume the statutory maximum of seven years for this offense, I believe that sentence would still be insufficient for the defendant.” It asked the court, “Please carefully consider these circumstances and dismiss the appeal.”
The court concluded the arguments that day and is scheduled to issue its ruling at 2 p.m. on the 22nd.
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