Ally of S Korea leader jailed over opinion rigging scandal

A political ally of South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday received a two-year prison term for his involvement in an online opinion rigging scandal.

The conviction of South Gyeongsang Gov Kim Kyoung-soo is a blow to Moon, a liberal who is struggling to revive stalled negotiations on North Korea's nuclear program and address diverse economic woes at home.

The Seoul Central District Court said that Kim was immediately arrested after his conviction.

He was to be held at a detention facility near Seoul, a court official said, requesting anonymity citing department rules.

Both Kim and prosecutors have one week to appeal.

If Kim's prison term is upheld in higher courts, he will be stripped of his governor post, the court official said.

The court gave no further details.

But local media reported Kim allegedly colluded with a power blogger to sway online public opinion to support Moon ahead of the 2017 presidential election.

Moon isn't directly involved in the scandal.

His office called Kim's conviction "totally unexpected."