South Korea’s Ex‑First Lady Kim Keon‑Hee Indicted Again for Luxury Gifts Linked to Business Favors
Updated (2 articles)
Special counsel files fresh indictment against former first lady The special counsel team filed a new indictment on Dec 26, 2025, charging Kim Keon‑Hee with receiving luxury items in exchange for business favors [1][2]. The indictment expands the existing probe that already includes corruption and bribery allegations. Prosecutors previously sought a 15‑year prison term for those earlier charges [1][2].
Luxury gifts valued over 100 million won exchanged for influence Kim is accused of accepting a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace worth more than 100 million won from a construction‑company chairman in 2022 [1][2]. She also allegedly received a gold‑plated turtle from Lee Bae‑yong, later appointed head of the National Education Commission [1][2]. A separate Dior handbag allegedly given by a Korean‑American pastor was mentioned, though that case remains under appeal [1].
Six co‑defendants charged for supplying the valuables Six individuals, including the two gift‑providers, were indicted alongside Kim for furnishing the jewelry and turtle in return for favorable treatment [1][2]. The indictment ties the gifts directly to attempts to secure official posts for the providers’ relatives or to influence policy decisions.
Earlier corruption case sought 15‑year prison term Prior to this indictment, prosecutors had already charged Kim with corruption and bribery, requesting a maximum 15‑year sentence [1][2]. Those charges stem from separate investigations into her alleged misuse of political connections for private gain.
Potential bribery charge to be handed to police and assets seized Investigators omitted a direct bribery charge because they could not prove President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s awareness of the gifts [1][2]. The team plans to transfer the suspected bribery case to police as its mandate expires, and it announced that all criminal proceeds will be confiscated [1][2].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap: Ex‑first lady indicted again over luxury gifts for business favors – Details the new indictment, lists the Van Cleef necklace, gold turtle, Dior handbag, six co‑defendants, and notes the pending transfer of a bribery charge and asset confiscation .
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[2]
Yonhap: Ex‑first lady Kim Keon Hee indicted again over luxury gifts for business favors – Highlights the necklace and turtle gifts, six indictments, earlier 15‑year term request, and emphasizes Kim’s status as the ousted president’s wife .
Timeline
2022 – Kim Keon Hee receives a Van Cleef & Arpels necklace valued at over 100 million won from a construction‑company chairman and a gold‑plated turtle from Lee Bae‑yong, both in return for influencing official appointments and business decisions. These exchanges form the core “gifts‑for‑favors” scheme now under prosecution. [1][2]
2023 – A Korean‑American pastor secretly films a meeting with Kim and later gives her a Dior handbag, releasing the video publicly; prosecutors had previously declined to indict her, but the decision remains under appeal. The episode highlights the wide‑ranging sources of alleged impropriety surrounding the former first lady. [1]
2025 – President Yoon Suk Yeol is removed from office earlier in the year, leaving Kim as the spouse of an ousted leader; the political fallout intensifies scrutiny of any legal actions against her. [2]
Early Dec 2025 – Prosecutors file corruption and bribery charges against Kim, seeking a 15‑year prison term, marking the first major criminal case against the former first lady and escalating political tension. [1][2]
Dec 26 2025 08:53 UTC – A special‑counsel team files a new indictment charging Kim with accepting luxury gifts to secure business favors, detailing the Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and gold turtle and adding six co‑defendants who supplied the valuables. The move broadens the scope of the investigation beyond the earlier bribery case. [2]
Dec 26 2025 11:06 UTC – The special counsel indicts Kim again, confirming that the construction chairman offered jewelry to obtain his son‑in‑law’s appointment and that Lee Bae‑yong sought the National Education Commission headship; investigators announce that “all criminal proceeds obtained by Kim will be confiscated” and that the suspected bribery charge will be transferred to police as the counsel’s term ends. This signals a procedural shift and a focus on asset recovery. [1]