South Korea's top court upholds two-year jail term for opposition MP

12/12/2024 16:06

South Korea's top court upheld on Thursday a two-year jail term for an opposition lawmaker on charges including bribery and academic fraud in a scandal that has deepened the political divide in the country and disenchanted many young voters.



The verdict stripped Cho Kuk, a former justice minister and President Yoon Suk Yeol's adversary who now runs the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, of his seat in parliament and his right to run for office for the next five years.



It could also undermine the opposition camp's all-out efforts to impeach Yoon over his martial law attempt in a vote scheduled for Saturday, even though another member will inherit Cho's seat - among the party's 12 in the single-chamber, 300-seat assembly.



The Seoul Central District Court convicted Cho early last year of falsifying documents to send his children to prestigious high schools and universities, taking 6 million won ($4,200) in bribery in the form of their scholarships, and peddling influence to hamper a corruption investigation involving a confidant to then President Moon Jae-in.



The Supreme Court confirmed the lower court's ruling that sentenced him to two years in prison and a fine of 6 million won, saying in a statement that there was no error in that decision.