A special prosecutor asked a Seoul court on Wednesday to sentence robot-dog entrepreneur 서성빈 to one year and six months in prison [1].
The case highlights concerns regarding the influence of the presidential inner circle on government procurement, and the legality of gifts given to high-ranking officials.
The request was made at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul [1, 3]. Prosecutors allege that 서성빈 used a personal connection with First Lady 김건희 to secure a business contract for his robot-dog venture with the presidential security office [2, 4].
According to the prosecution, 서성빈 provided a high-end Boucheron watch to the First Lady as a bribe in exchange for the solicitation of business [2, 4]. The prosecutor handling the case, who is tasked with violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, said, "I requested a prison sentence of one year and six months" [1].
This legal proceeding follows a series of court appearances, including a previous hearing held on April 24, 2026 [2]. The case centers on whether the luxury timepiece was a gift or a calculated move to influence state security contracts.
While the prosecutor has formally requested the sentence, the court has not yet issued a final ruling. The proceedings continue to draw public attention due to the involvement of the First Lady, and the nature of the alleged quid pro quo involving advanced robotics technology [2, 4].
“I requested a prison sentence of one year and six months”
This case serves as a critical test of South Korea's anti-corruption laws and the accountability of the presidential family. If the court accepts the prosecutor's request, it would establish a legal precedent regarding the solicitation of business through the First Lady's office, potentially impacting how government contracts are awarded to private tech firms.
