A South Korean court has jailed former president Park Geun-hye for 24 years over a scandal that exposed webs of corruption between political leaders and the country's conglomerates.
Supporters of South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye protest after a court sentenced Geun-hye to 24 years in prison. Photo: AFP
Park became South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office last year when the Constitutional Court ordered her out over a scandal that landed the heads of two conglomerates in jail.
The court also fined Park, the daughter of a former military dictator, 18 billion won ($NZ23.2 million) after finding her guilty of charges including bribery, abuse of power and coercion.
"The defendant abused her presidential power entrusted by the people, and as a result, brought massive chaos to the order of state affairs and led to the impeachment of the president, which was unprecedented," judge Kim Se-yoon said.
The court ruled that Park colluded with her old friend, Choi Soon-sil, to receive 23.1 billion won from major conglomerates including Samsung and Lotte to help Choi's family and bankroll non-profit foundations owned by her.
South Korea's disgraced former president Park Geun-hye. Photo: AFP
Prosecutors sought a 30-year sentence and a 118.5 billion won ($112 million) fine for Park.
Park, 66, who has been in jail since March 31 last year, denied wrongdoing and was not present in court.
The judge said Park had shown "no sign of repentance" but had instead tried to shift the blame to Choi and her secretaries.
"We cannot help but sternly hold her accountable," Kim said.
Park apologised at her trial for seeking help from Choi, who had no policy or political experience, but that was as close as Park came to admitting any guilt.
About 1000 Park supporters gathered outside the court, holding national flags and signs calling for an end to "political revenge" against her.
Most supporters are older conservatives who remember her father's authoritarian 18-year rule, beginning in 1961, when their country began its remarkable surge towards becoming an economic power.
- Reuters
