US George Washington University: "Cho Kuk's son violated exam rules by proxy testing... Will conduct internal investigation if evidence is shared"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] George Washington University in the United States stated that the controversy surrounding former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk allegedly completing his son Cho's online university exam questions constitutes 'academic misconduct.'

Previously, the indictment submitted by the prosecution when charging former Minister Cho without detention included allegations that he interfered with university affairs by taking his son's online exam on his behalf.

On the 4th, JoongAng Ilbo reported, citing an interview with Tim Dott, Director of Academic Advising at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, that former Minister Cho completing his son's online exam answers is considered academic misconduct.

In the interview with the media, Director Dott stated that if a student receives unauthorized help or consultation from someone else or family during an exam, it is treated as a violation of academic integrity, adding, "If the Korean prosecution shares evidence that former Minister Cho completed his son's exam answers, we will also investigate."

He also said the university would internally investigate whether the academic integrity officer or Cho's professor is aware of the incident.

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, the prosecution indicted former Minister Cho on 12 charges including corruption, scholarship fraud, and violation of the Public Officials Ethics Act.

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation / Photo by Yonhap News

Among these charges was the allegation that former Minister Cho interfered with university affairs by completing his son's online exam answers twice between November and December 2016.

In response, Yoo Si-min, director of the People’s Life Foundation and former politician, appeared on the YouTube channel 'Alileo' on the same day, stating, "This was a 20-question open-book quiz," and "Since it was an open-book exam taken by the son, any materials could be referenced."

He added, "Whether the parent helped during the open-book exam is unknown, but the prosecution charged him solely on suspicion of parental involvement in the online open-book exam," calling the application of such charges "cute."