Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee Pleads for Acquittal in Appeals Trial

Former first lady Kim Keon Hee said Wednesday that she had “lost everything — my wealth and my honor” after her husband, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, became president, making an emotional plea for acquittal in her appeals trial.

Kim, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in the first trial of her influence-peddling case, denied exploiting her position as the president’s wife for personal gain.

“I have never received anything in return for offering someone a public post or state project, nor have I ever used presidential authority to give someone a position or business opportunity,” Kim said in her final statement at the Seoul High Court.

A lower court found her guilty on all counts, including receiving jewelry worth 103.8 million won ($74,000) from Lee Bong-kwan, chairman of Seohee Construction, in exchange for helping secure a position for his eldest son-in-law. Other charges involved a 39.9 million won Vacheron Constantin watch from another businessman, a gold turtle and a replica of the Joseon-era painting Sehando from Lee Bae-yong, a former chair of the National Education Commission, a Dior bag from Pastor Choi Jae-young, and a painting from Kim Sang-min, a former senior prosecutor, in connection with a request for a party nomination.

At Wednesday’s final hearing, Kim acknowledged that she “should have been more careful” in her conduct as the president’s wife, but said she could not admit to acts she had not committed.

She said she had been financially better off before her husband became president.

“I was much better off financially when I was running a business before marriage, but after my husband became president, I lost everything — my wealth and my honor,” she said.

The appeals court is scheduled to deliver its ruling on Sept. 22.

This article was written with the assistance of AI. -- Ed.