ED Verdict on Park

Ex-leader faces grave consequence for wrongdoings

The impeached former President Park Geun-hye was sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined 18 billion won ($16.8 million) Friday for corruption and other illegalities while in office.

The 66-year-old has been detained since March 2017 after being impeached and arrested over a corruption scandal involving her friend Choi Soon-sil, her aides and some of the nation's key business leaders.

In a ruling delivered by chief judge Kim Se-yun, the Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty on 16 out of 18 charges, including bribery, abuse of power and coercion.

The court's sentencing is shorter than the 30-year prison term requested by prosecutors. Nonetheless, the hefty sentencing shows the court's grave judgment of Park's key role in the scandal that toppled her administration and blemished the nation's hard-won democracy.

The verdict was delivered without Park in attendance and broadcast live on TV despite her objections. Park has been boycotting court sessions since October. Since her arrest, she has denied all wrongdoings and has blamed her aides and others rather than taking responsibility for her actions.

Regardless of political inclination, the Korean public watched the verdict with a heavy heart. Supporters of the former president claim Park did not break the law or seek personal gain. Those who have been critical of the ex-leader think Park got what she deserved for being negligent of her duties as president and allowing Choi to meddle in state affairs despite holding no official position in her administration or having expertise in any field.

The nation's first female president arrived at Cheong Wa Dae in February 2013 promising to build a new Korea and drive out corruption. But like her male predecessors, she was implicated in corruption and ended up in jail.

The ruling came as her predecessor, former President Lee Myung-bak, is set to begin a corruption trial after being detained late last month.

It is a strong wish of the people to not see presidents ending up in prison again after they leave office or becoming involved in corruption scandals toward the end of their presidency. Park's sentencing is an embarrassing repetition of history which must not happen again.

Park's case provides a lesson for all leaders to honor their oath of office by upholding the rule of law and doing their utmost to fulfill their duties.

One of President Moon Jae-in's key pledges was to eradicate various longstanding social evils in the aftermath of Park's corruption scandal. The Moon administration should make tireless efforts to build a corruption-free Korea.