South Korea takes tough measures against Volkswagen's cheating scandal, executives sentenced to one and a half years in prison

On January 6, local time, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced a Volkswagen executive to one year and six months in prison. According to Reuters, the executive deliberately falsified emission and noise test documents in order to obtain an import license.

The sentencing is the latest outcome in Volkswagen's South Korean scandal, which halted sales of its vehicles in the country after it was exposed as one of the group's fastest-growing markets.

“As a world-renowned brand, Volkswagen’s cheating has severely damaged its reputation and caused huge negative impacts on society and the economy,” the Seoul Central District Court said in a statement. The court statement gave only the last name of the sentenced executive, Yun, and noted that the executive’s crimes included falsifying documents, obstructing official duties and violating environmental laws.

After Yun was sentenced, Volkswagen Korea issued a statement saying: "Audi Volkswagen Korea will fully cooperate with the investigation of the prosecution and will sincerely participate in the subsequent legal proceedings." Currently, the Seoul prosecutor's investigation into the case is still ongoing.

Last August, South Korea's environment ministry ordered Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley to stop selling nearly 80 models and fined Volkswagen's Korean unit 17.8 billion won ($14.91 million) for allegedly falsifying emissions and noise test documents.

South Korean authorities have taken a tough stance on Volkswagen's conduct in South Korea. In addition to filing criminal charges against Audi Volkswagen Korea's general manager Johannes Thammer, they raided his offices and fined Volkswagen an additional 37.3 billion won ($31.87 million) for false advertising.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.