A Seoul court on Thursday sentenced an incumbent opposition lawmaker to three years in prison for taking bribes in exchange for favors.
Rep. Kim Jae-yun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy was found guilty of taking 48 million won ($44,000) in cash and gift certificates from a local vocational training school in return for helping pass a bill in favor of the school.
The Seoul Central District Court also ordered Kim to pay a fine of 50 million won and forfeit an additional 44 million won.
The passage of the bill to revise the vocational education law in April helped change the name and upgrade the status of what is now known as Seoul Art College.
Kim will lose his legislative seat if the sentence is upheld through the Supreme Court.
Prosecutors earlier sought an eight-year-prison term for Kim. (Yonhap)
