During the incident she was angered that she was given macadamia nuts which she did not ask for, and was offended that they were served in a bag, not in a bowl.

After confronting flight staff, she ordered the plane which was taxiing at New York's JFK Airport to turn back and offload the chief steward.

Under the new law, passed by parliamentarians last year, anyone who disturbs the pilot during a flight could face up to five years in prison or a 50 million won ($41,200; £28,900) fine.

Previously the same offence did not have a jail term and only had a 5 million won fine. Crew members are also now compelled to hand over unruly passengers to the police, or risk a 10 million won fine.

"The amended law reflects mounting public demand for enhanced aviation safety and the prevention of unruly behaviour during flight following the Korean Air nut rage incident," the transport ministry said in a press statement.

Ms Cho was convicted of violating airline safety. She served five months in jail before she was freed in May after an appeals court overturned the ruling saying she did not cause a change in flight path. Another conviction of using violence against flight attendants still stands.