Former Dongyang University President Choi Seong-hae: "I have never issued or been informed about the award certificate for Cho Kuk's daughter"

Professor Jeong Kyung-shim Appears as Witness in Trial

Former Dongyang University President Choi Seong-hae leaving the prosecution after being questioned as a witness on September 5 last year [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] On the 30th, Choi Seong-hae, former president of Dongyang University, appeared as a witness in the criminal trial of Jung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University and wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, testifying that “I never issued a certificate of commendation, nor was I ever informed about it.”

There is expected to be a fierce dispute between the prosecution and Professor Jung’s side over the testimony of former President Choi, who has consistently denied outside the courtroom the fact that a certificate of commendation was awarded to Cho Min, the daughter of former Minister Cho.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judges Im Jeong-yeop, Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee) is currently conducting witness examination of former President Choi in the trial on charges including violation of the Capital Markets Act against Professor Jung, which began at 10 a.m. that day.

Former President Choi, who took the witness stand, answered the prosecution’s question about the truthfulness of Cho’s statement regarding the circumstances of receiving the certificate of commendation recorded in Cho’s suspect interrogation record by saying, “I did not even know that certificates of commendation were being awarded.”

When asked, “Did you first learn of the existence of a certificate of commendation issued in the name of the witness for Cho Min through media reports?” he replied, “I first learned about it through media reports.”

Former President Choi answered “No” to the question, “Is it possible for Dongyang University to issue a certificate in the name of the president without the president’s approval or authorization?” The prosecution also asked, “During your tenure as president, did you ever issue an award called the ‘Best Volunteer Award’ that Cho Min supposedly received?” to which he replied, “No.”

When asked, “Is there absolutely no fact that you received an oral report regarding the issuance of a certificate of commendation to Cho Min?” he answered, “No, there is none.”

Last September, after being investigated by the prosecution, former President Choi said in response to reporters’ questions about whether the certificate of commendation was issued, “I don’t really know how the certificate was issued.” At that time, he also revealed that he had been asked by Professor Jung to say that she had delegated the authority to issue the certificate of commendation, saying, “She is a fellow professor and, out of love for her daughter, there was a lot of conflict, but I chose my conscience as an educator.”