A ring $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$ is called right Köthe if every right $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}$-module is a direct sum of cyclic modules. In this paper, we give a characterization of basic hereditary right Köthe rings in terms of their Coxeter valued quivers. We also give a characterization of basic right Köthe rings with radical square zero. Therefore, we give a solution to Köthe’s problem in these two cases.