The court has decided not to punish former South Korean ambassador to the Czech Republic Oh Gap-ryul for helping the Sewol ferry owner Yoo Byung-eon evade the manhunt.

The Seoul High Court on Friday upheld the lower court ruling, recognizing the former ambassador's kinship with late Yoo, his brother-in-law.

In the ruling, the court referred to Article 151 of the nation's criminal law to conclude that Oh is not punishable.

The court, however, added that Oh will not be free from criticism for his actions, noting that he had been in public service for a long period of time.

Following the deadly sinking of the passenger ferry last year, Oh was indicted without physical detention on charges of informing Yoo of developments in police investigations. The former ambassador sent letters to Yoo between the end of April and May 10 of last year when the controversial businessman was hiding out in his vacation home in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province.