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PARK GEUN-HYE: SOUTH KOREA'S EX-LEADER JAILED FOR 24 YEARS FOR CORRUPTION

Published
6 April 2018

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Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Ms Park was brought to court in May 2017 shortly after her arrest

South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye has been sentenced to 24 years in
jail after she was found guilty of abuse of power and coercion.

The verdict was broadcast live and represents the culmination of a scandal which
rocked the country, fuelling rage against political and business elites.

Park, who was also fined 18bn won (£12m, $17m), faced a string of corruption
charges.

The former leader was not in court on Friday for the verdict.

She has boycotted her trial hearings and has previously accused the courts of
being biased against her. She has also denied all wrongdoing and has said she
will appeal against her sentence.

 * Who is Park Geun-hye?
 * South Korea's presidential scandal explained
 * Did a puppy bring down South Korea's president?
 * The friendship behind South Korea's presidential crisis

Judge Kim Se-yoon said Park had shown "no sign of repentance" after causing
"massive chaos" in the country.



"We cannot help but sternly hold her accountable," the judge said.

South Korea's presidential residence, the Blue House, issued a statement after
the verdict calling it a "heartbreaking event for the nation".

"A history that is not remembered is bound to be repeated," it read.

The move by the authorities to allow Friday's verdict to be broadcast live was
unprecedented, but they cited extraordinary public interest in the case.

Image source, AFP/Getty
Image caption,
South Koreans watched as the verdict was broadcast live


WHAT WAS SHE CONVICTED OF?

Park was found guilty of 16 out of 18 charges, most of which related to bribery
and coercion.

The court ruled that she had colluded with her close friend, Choi Soon-sil, to
pressure conglomerates such as electronics giant Samsung and retail chain Lotte
to give millions of dollars to foundations run by Choi.



She was also convicted of forcing companies to sign lucrative deals with firms
owned by Choi and donate gifts to Choi and her daughter.

In addition, Park was found guilty of leaking confidential presidential
documents to Choi.

She has seven days to file an appeal.


WHAT LED TO HER DOWNFALL?

A friendship lies at the heart of the undoing of South Korea's first female
president.

Park and Choi were childhood friends and Choi swiftly became the leader's most
trusted confidante.

But their relationship latterly came under intense public scrutiny and the
charge is that Choi had undue influence over a nation's affairs through her
connection with Park.


Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Choi (centre) was a longtime friend and adviser to former South Korean President
Park Geun-hye

Choi was eventually found guilty of corruption, and sentenced to 20 years in
prison earlier this year.

After a prolonged series of hearings and months of street protests calling for
her resignation, Park was finally removed from office in March 2017, making her
the first democratically-elected president to be impeached.

She was arrested shortly afterwards, and has been in detention ever since.

Image source, AFP
Image caption,
Park's supporters gathered outside the court in Seoul demanding her release


WHO ELSE WAS CAUGHT UP IN THIS?

Some of the biggest South Korean companies and their leaders have been drawn
into the scandal, as well as numerous figures from the entertainment world and
government servants.

Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong, also known as Jay Y Lee, was singled out
in particular after details emerged that he had given a horse to Choi's daughter
Chung Yoo-ra, who is an equestrian.

He was sentenced to jail, but only served five months before he was freed, when
an appeals court reduced and suspended his sentence.

Ms Chung has also faced scrutiny, and was extradited from Denmark to South Korea
last year to face questioning.


IS THIS UNUSUAL IN SOUTH KOREA?

Park, the country's first female leader, was also the first
democratically-elected president to be impeached.

But she is not the only former president to have been arrested for corruption.

 * South Korea's presidential problem

Last month former leader Lee Myung-bak was charged with corruption over
allegations he took bribes while in office.

Two others, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, were convicted for treason and
corruption in the 1990s.

In 2009, former president Roh Moo-hyun killed himself while he was under
investigation for corruption.


WHAT DOES THE VERDICT MEAN FOR THE COUNTRY?

Park's sentencing has drawn a line under what has been one of the biggest
corruption scandals to rock South Korea in recent years.

The scandal has created greater awareness and criticism of the longstanding
close ties between the political elite and chaebols, or family-run conglomerates
which dominate South Korea's economy.

It has also fuelled the rise of the liberal Moon Jae-in, Park's previous
political opponent who eventually replaced her as president after campaigning on
a platform of a clean government.

But South Koreans are divided on the verdict. Several hundred Park supporters
gathered outside the court waving national flags during the ruling.

Some sat in tears after the conviction, with others started a protest march.

"The rule of law in this country is dead today," said one pro-Park demonstrator.


MORE ON THIS STORY

 * South Korea's presidential scandal
   
   6 April 2018
   
   

 * Park Geun-hye: South Korea's first female president
   
   6 April 2018
   
   

 * A friendship too far in Seoul?
   
   31 October 2016
   
   

 * Did a puppy bring down South Korea's president?
   
   9 December 2016
   
   

 * The tragedy of South Korea's Park Geun-hye
   
   9 December 2016
   
   





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