Kim Geonhee Sentenced to 5 Years for Influence Peddling in Appeals Trial... 2 Years Reduced from Initial Verdict (Comprehensive)

Court Finds No Quid Pro Quo for Wristwatch and "Sehando" Replica
Both Special Prosecutor and Kim’s Legal Team Announce Appeals

Kim Geonhee, who was brought to trial on charges of receiving money and valuables in conjunction with influence peddling, was sentenced to five years in prison in her appellate trial. The sentence was reduced by two years compared to the initial trial, as the court determined that there was insufficient evidence of quid pro quo regarding the luxury wristwatch and a replica of "Sehando."

First Lady Kim Geon-hee is testifying as a witness in the continuation trial of former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae's case, accused of engaging in important tasks related to rebellion, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on April 13. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On September 22, the Criminal Division 15-3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Seong Eonju, Won Ikseon, and Lee Heejoon) sentenced Kim to five years in prison on charges of receiving rewards for influence peddling under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The court also ordered the confiscation of a painting by artist Lee Ufan, a golden turtle, a necklace, a brooch, and other items, and imposed an additional fine of 24.4 million won. In the first trial, she was sentenced to seven years in prison with confiscation and an additional fine of 64.8 million won.

The court stated, “This case concerns an act of influence peddling in which money and valuables were received under the pretense of official duties. The defendant, as the spouse of the president, ignored her public role and repeatedly accepted valuables without hesitation.” Regarding sentencing, the fact that she returned valuables only after the investigation began worked against her, while the facts that she did not request the valuables first and has no prior criminal record were considered mitigating circumstances.

The court overturned her conviction for receiving a Vacheron Constantin wristwatch worth 39.9 million won from a robotic dog entrepreneur surnamed Seo in September 2022. While suspicions lingered that the watch may have been given as compensation, the court found it difficult to fully dismiss her claim that she requested Seo to purchase the watch on her behalf. The contract for leasing robotic dogs by the Presidential Security Service was finalized before the watch was given, and the court found that Seo was not involved in that process. The court added, “The special prosecutor's claim amounts to speculation that Seo would have mentioned it if he was close to the defendant.”

The court did not accept the lower court’s decision to find her guilty for accepting a replica of "Sehando" as a bribe. The court explained that the replica was a promotional print framed with foundation funds, which is fundamentally different from personal gifts such as the golden turtle purchased with private funds. The court also noted that the timing alone, being close to the appeal for appointment, was insufficient to establish a quid pro quo. However, since the acceptance of the golden turtle falls within the scope of the conviction, a separate not-guilty verdict was not rendered for that particular charge.

The remaining charges were upheld, as in the first trial. Kim was found guilty of receiving jewelry worth 103.8 million won—including necklaces, brooches, and earrings—along with a solicitation from Lee Bonggwan, Chairman of Sehee Construction, in the first half of 2022. The court rejected her claim that the gifts were given solely out of vague expectations, citing as evidence that Lee delivered the necklace after Yun Sukyeol was elected president and that Kim herself asked whether there was anything she could do to help the company before hearing any specific request when she received the brooch.

The court also found her guilty of accepting a golden turtle worth 2.15 million won from former National Education Committee Chair Lee Baeyong along with a request for an appointment, and of receiving a painting by artist Lee Ufan worth 140 million won from former Deputy Prosecutor General Kim Sangmin along with a request for a political nomination in February 2023. The court noted that the fact that Kim Sangmin was cut off from the nomination process did not disprove the existence of a quid pro quo. Regarding the charge of receiving a bag worth 5.4 million won from Reverend Choi Jaeyoung, the court explained that in crimes involving rewards for influence peddling, the actual intent of the person making the request is not a determining factor in establishing guilt, and therefore maintained the conviction.

Meanwhile, after the sentencing, both the special prosecutor’s team and Kim’s legal counsel announced their intention to appeal. Kim’s legal representative, attorney Chae Myungsung, stated, “We deeply apologize for the distress caused to the public due to inappropriate conduct as the president’s spouse,” but emphasized, “She has never used her office or accepted illicit requests. Moral and political responsibility must be clearly distinguished from criminal liability,” affirming plans to appeal.

Special prosecutor Kim Hansoo commented, “It is regrettable that the judgment that the First Lady accepted a luxury watch worth tens of millions of won from an entrepreneur with ongoing business matters but is not guilty may not be convincing to the general public,” adding, “We will review the verdict and work to ensure that the Supreme Court can correct this decision.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.