The first-instance ruling for First Lady Kim Keon-hee is being broadcast live at Seoul Station on the 26th. [Photo = Yonhap News]

The 21st Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jo Soon-pyo) sentenced First Lady Kim Keon-hee to 7 years in prison, following charges brought by prosecutors for accepting money and valuables worth a total of 300 million won.

On the 26th, the court found the defendant guilty of all charges regarding the receipt of approximately 290 million won worth of gifts, including paintings by famous artists, luxury handbags, and watches, delivered to the First Lady after President Yoon Suk-yeol’s election.

The court stated, “By leveraging her influential status as the First Lady, she fostered a widespread structure of solicitation across society.” It further explained that “had she held public office, this grave offense would have carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment”; however, as a private citizen, the court applied the charge of ‘receiving money through mediation,’ handing down a heavy sentence near the maximum limit (7 years and 6 months for corruption related to office-trading).

Meanwhile, regarding Pastor Choi Jae-young, who filmed the encounter, the court ruled that his actions went beyond simple undercover reporting and included private motives, sentencing him to a fine of 8 million won.