"Our Past Was Better"... Jung Kyung-shim and Jo Kwon's Expressions Hardened by Unfavorable Statements

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Jung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University and wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, along with his younger brother Cho Kwon, found themselves in a difficult situation in court due to unfavorable testimonies from acquaintances who were former colleagues and school juniors with whom they had close ties.

According to the court on the 31st, at the continuation trial of Professor Jung held the previous day at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judge Lim Jeong-yeop), former Dongyang University President Choi Seong-hae, who appeared as a witness, said, "I had deep trust in Professor Jung in the past." To ease Professor Jung's workload, he even assigned his nephew as an assistant staff member, and within the school, there were rumors that Professor Jung was the youngest sibling of former President Choi.

However, former President Choi gave testimony unfavorable to Professor Jung regarding the forgery of certificates charges. He first stated, "I never approved any certificates or completion documents issued in my name to the children of former Minister Cho." He also testified, "Before the prosecution investigation, I received coaxing phone calls from Professor Jung and former Minister Cho."

Professor Jung, seated in the defendant's seat, appeared quite flustered as former President Choi continued to provide unfavorable testimony against her. She reviewed related materials and consulted with her lawyer several times. The distance between the two in the courtroom was less than 3 meters.

On the same day, at the continuation trial of Mr. Cho held by the court's Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Kim Mi-ri), no testimony favorable to the defendant emerged. Rather, Park, a junior from Mr. Cho’s elementary school who appeared as a witness, gave testimony unfavorable to the defendant. Park is an accomplice in the alleged hiring corruption at Woongdong Academy involving Mr. Cho. In January, during the first trial, Park was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for delivering bribes in exchange for teacher recruitment and is currently incarcerated.

On that day, Park testified regarding the Woongdong Academy hiring corruption allegations, saying, "Mr. Cho first proposed to find someone willing to participate in the hiring corruption." He also admitted, "I received and leaked written exam questions and answer sheets for a specific candidate to Mr. Cho." Park testified that it was also "true" that he was urged by Mr. Cho to go into hiding. All of these statements contradicted the claims Mr. Cho’s side had made so far.

During the witness examination, Mr. Cho did not make eye contact with Park even once.