Former South Korean leader Park Geun Hye has been convicted of abuse of power and coercion, marking the end of the scandal that rattled business leaders and exposed a Rasputin-like figure at the top of government.
Prosecutors sought a 30-year jail sentence and an over 110 million dollar fine on charges that included bribery, abuse of power, and coercion. In a rare move, the court in Seoul decided to broadcast the trial on live television,
Park colluded with her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil to solicit bribes from South Korean conglomerates including Samsung and retail giant Lotte in exchange for policy favors. Prosecutors charged Park with 21 separate crimes and accused her of working with Choi in taking bribes and pressuring companies to fund nonprofits run by Choi's family. She was accused of leaking classified intel.
The scandal exposed exposed what has long been widely suspected in South Korea: the entangled web of government and sprawling business conglomerates that dominate the country’s economy. Park’s rise to the presidency in 2013 was seen as a personal redemption 30 years after her father, then the country’s dictator, was assassinated. But while personally damaging to South Korea’s first female leader, the affair also resulted in a major blow to conservatives in the following election.
Choi was jailed for 20 years in February for using her influence to gain favour and enrich herself, and the heads of Samsung and Lotte were both given shorter prison sentences.
Park denied all the charges against her, although she did apologize for allowing Choi to influence her, the closest she has come to an admission. Park has been in jail since March 2017.
Source: The Guardian
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