South Koreanโ prosecutors have โขdemanded aโค 15-year prison sentence for Kim Kun-hee, the former first lady, on โฃcharges of bribery and corruption related to a 2011 land progress deal. The Seoul Central District Court heard arguments on Friday, with prosecutors โฃalleging Kim โreceived illicit funds from a developer in exchange for favorable treatment during the โproject’s approval process.The case against kim,โค wife โฃof former President Park Geun-hye, centers on accusations she leveraged herโฃ influence to secure financial benefits for herself and associates. โThis latest developmentโ in a series of high-profile corruption scandals involving South Korea’s political eliteโฃ underscores ongoing efforts โto combat graft โand ensure accountability among public officials. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks, and the outcome could have significant implications for the future of South Korea’s political landscape and public trust in itsโ institutions.
Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting Kim received approximately 35 million won (roughly $28,000 USD at the time) from the developer, โLee โคSang-geun, through intermediaries. They argued this constituted a bribe intended to influence the land development project in Seongnam, near Seoul. Lee was convicted in 2018 of corruption charges related to the same deal and โขtestified against Kim during the trial.
Kim’s legal โteam has consistently deniedโ the charges, โคclaiming her involvement was minimal andโ that she was unaware of any illicitโข transactions. โThey argued theโข prosecution’s case relies heavily on the testimony โof a convicted criminal and lacks concrete evidence โdirectlyโ linking Kim โto the bribery scheme. โ
The trial follows the impeachment andโฃ conviction of โคPark Geun-hye in 2018 on separate corruption charges, marking a tumultuous periodโ in South Korean politics. โPark is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.โฃ The ongoing prosecutionโข of Kim Kun-hee represents โฃa continuedโ effort by authorities to addressโฃ systemic corruption andโฃ reinforce the ruleโข of law.
