Contrasting reaction from the domestic political arena to Governor Kim's sentence.<br />The ruling Democratic Party defended the former liberal lawmaker.<br />The opposition bloc is expected to use the ruling to step up its political offense against the ruling party, especially with general elections taking place next year.<br />Kim Min-ji reports.<br /> <br />The ruling against Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo is expected to have serious implications for the ruling Democratic Party.<br />Kim -- who is a close aide of President Moon Jae-in -- was considered a strong potential candidate for the presidency.<br />The ruling party said it regrets the decision by the lower court, adding that Kim will be proven innocent through the appeals process.<br />The party claimed that the ruling was politically motivated and that it damages confidence in a judiciary seen to be making pre-determined decisions.<br /><br />However, the ruling was welcomed at the other end of the spectrum.<br />The main opposition Liberty Korea Party called Kim's conviction a matter of course,... calling on him to resign from his post immediately.<br />The conservatives claimed that the opinion-rigging had a big influence in the 2017 presidential election and called into question the legitimacy of its outcome.<br />The party said the president should say whether he was aware of what was happening.<br /><br />The minor opposition Bareun Mirae Party said that any act that infringes on democracy is not acceptable and something like this should not happen again in Korean politics.<br />Liberal minor parties were more or less on the same page,... calling opinion-rigging a crime against democracy.<br /><br />Pundits say Wednesday's ruling could spell trouble for the ruling party -- which is already grappling with scandals involving some of its lawmakers.<br />The opposition bloc is expected to step up its rhetoric,... especially with the general elections just over a year away.<br />On top of that, the ruling could deal a blow to the Moon administration, which has been continuously pushing to root out corruption,... having taken the helm from the Park Geun-hye government, which was brought down for abusing its power.<br />The presidential office released a short statement saying that the court's decision was unexpected and that they will wait patiently as the ruling is appealed.<br />Kim Min-ji, Arirang News. <br />
