The official has, however, been acquitted of charges of abuse of power, coercion and perjury so has been handed a suspended prison term.

Cho resigned from her role after being arrested in January with just over one year to go until Pyeongchang 2018

She was charged in connection with an investigation into the blacklisting of artists critical of the Government of former President Park Geun-hye, who was officially removed from office in March after being impeached following a cronyism scandal.

But the Seoul Central District Court has ordered Cho's release after only finding her guilty of lying before Parliament at a hearing on the blacklist scandal last year.

She has been released from prison having been given a one-year jail term suspended for two years.

It had been alleged that Cho created a list of artists and cultural figures to be excluded from Government arts subsidies on political grounds.

Park's former chief of staff, Kim Ki-choon, was also arrested on the same charges, with the former South Korean Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong pinning the blame on Kim.

Kim has been sentenced to three-years in jail.

The court also sentenced five other ranking Government officials to between one-and-a-half and two years in jail, with some of them on probation, for their involvement in creating and managing the blacklist.

At the final trial on July 3, the special counsel team investigating the case sought seven years in prison for Kim and six years for Cho.

The court dismissed the prosecution's claim that Cho actively participated in the scheme, citing insufficient evidence.

Park’s impeachment centered around her links to Choi Soon-sil, her adviser, who allegedly exerted "undue influence" on policy-making, despite having no official Government role.

Cho Yang-ho's departure as Pyeongchang 2018 President last year was linked to the crisis, with it alleged that Choi was involved.

Dozens of South Korean politicians and businessmen have been implicated in the scandal, including Pyeongchang 2018 sponsors Samsung and construction contracts related to the Games.

Cho, replaced by Lee Hee-beom, claimed he was leaving to focus on financial issues at his Hanjin Shipping company.

In March, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach claimed political tensions would not overshadow Pyeongchang 2018.

He met with the then Prime Minister and acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn, and with the Speaker of the Korean National Assembly Chung Sye-kyun, during a visit to the country.

Park’s successor Moon Jae-in, a liberal candidate from the Democratic Party, has pledged greater dialogue with North Korea with tensions between the two neighbours currently high.

He comfortably beat Conservative challenger Hong Joon-pyo and centrist candidate Ahn Cheol-soo as he had 40 per cent of the vote when 80 per cent of ballots had been counted.

Pyeongchang 2018, due to take place between February 9 and 25, will be the second Olympics in a row where the host country has been in political turmoil.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was also impeached prior to Rio 2016 last year, after allegations that she manipulated budget gaps.