A Seoul lower court on Thursday sentenced a former comedian to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for assaulting his wife.

Seoul Central District Court ruled that comedian-turned-clergyman Seo Se-won was guilty of domestic violence.

Seo was suspected of pushing and dragging his former actress wife Seo Jung-hee to the ground and strangling her during a quarrel in the hallway of their apartment in southern Seoul last year.

“The wife’s injury was not light at all and the accused has not shown any regrets for his misbehavior,” the judge said.

The case sparked controversy after the surveillance footage of Seo assaulting his wife was released through the media.

After the assault, she underwent three weeks of medical treatment, officials said.

The wife has testified in a trial that she had nearly a prisoner-like marriage for 32 years, creating a public stir.

The 59-year-old clergyman claimed that his wife’s testimony was false and that she deliberately exaggerated the accidental case in an attempt to divorce with him.

The couple’s divorce proceedings are underway after the victim filed a lawsuit last year.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)