Kim Keon Hee, who served as South Korea’s First Lady from 2022 to 2025, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted in a high-profile bribery case linked to a “jobs-for-gifts” scandal.

She was arrested in August 2025 and had earlier received a four-year sentence in a separate case, deepening one of South Korea’s most closely watched political corruption investigations.

The ruling marks a major development in a case that has shaken South Korea’s political establishment and raised questions over influence, privilege and accountability at the highest levels.

South Korean ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee convicted in bribery case, gets 7 yrs in jail

South Korea&#39;s ousted president Park Geun-Hye was Monday charged with bribery involving millions of dollars over the corruption scandal that sparked her downfall.&nbsp;

Park, whose impeachment was confirmed by Seoul&#39;s top court last month, also faces charges of abusing her powers and leaking state secrets, Seoul prosecutors probing the scandal said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;We have formally charged Park... with multiple offences including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking state secrets,&quot; they said after wrapping up the months-long investigation.&nbsp;

Park is accused of colluding with her confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is already on trial, in coercing local conglomerates into donating a total of 77.4 billion won ($68 million) to two non-profit foundations.

Choi allegedly used some of the donations for personal gain.

Park is also accused of offering policy favours to top businessmen who enriched Choi, including Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong who was arrested earlier and is also on trial for bribery.&nbsp;

Prosecutors on Monday also charged Shin Dong-Bin, the chairman of the giant Lotte Group, with bribing Choi and Park.&nbsp;

Park, 65, has been behind bars&nbsp;at a detention centre on the outskirts of Seoul since her arrest last month.&nbsp;

The scandal prompted millions to take to the street for weeks calling for the ousting of the conservative president. Parliament impeached Park last December amid growing public pressure. &nbsp;

(AFP)

Ousted president Park Geun-Hye was charged with bribery and also faces charges of abusing her power

South Korea's ousted president Park Geun-Hye was Monday charged with bribery involving millions of dollars over the corruption scandal that sparked her downfall. Park, whose impeachment was confirmed by Seoul's top court last month, also faces charges of abusing her powers and leaking state secrets, Seoul prosecutors probing the scandal said in a statement. "We have formally charged Park... with multiple offences including abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking state secrets," they said after wrapping up the months-long investigation. Park is accused of colluding with her confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is already on trial, in coercing local conglomerates into donating a total of 77.4 billion won ($68 million) to two non-profit foundations. Choi allegedly used some of the donations for personal gain. Park is also accused of offering policy favours to top businessmen who enriched Choi, including Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong who was arrested earlier and is also on trial for bribery. Prosecutors on Monday also charged Shin Dong-Bin, the chairman of the giant Lotte Group, with bribing Choi and Park. Park, 65, has been behind bars at a detention centre on the outskirts of Seoul since her arrest last month. The scandal prompted millions to take to the street for weeks calling for the ousting of the conservative president. Parliament impeached Park last December amid growing public pressure. (AFP)

South Korea's former president formally indicted for graft

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South Korean ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee convicted in bribery case, gets 7 yrs in jail

South Korea's former president formally indicted for graft