The nation's top court on Thursday upheld a four-year jail term for an opposition lawmaker for taking bribes in exchange for giving legislative favors.

Upholding a lower court's ruling, the Supreme Court found Rep. Kim Jae-yun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy guilty of accepting 54 million won (a$46,000) in cash and gift certificates from a local vocational school between August 2013 and May 2014.

Kim helped the parliamentary passage of a bill that allowed the school to change its name and upgrade its status to what is now known as Seoul Art College. 

"Some 4 million won worth of certificates Kim received was given with the expectation of benefits in return," the court said in the verdict.

The court ordered the 49-year-old to pay a fine of 60 million won and forfeit an additional 54 million won.

Kim lost his legislative seat as the sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court, lowering the number of seats held by the opposition party in the parliament to 127.

Earlier on Wednesday, another lawmaker, Rep. Song Kwang-ho of the ruling Saenuri Party, was also stripped of his parliamentary seat as he was convicted of bribery. (Yonhap)