Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, who was indicted on charges of issuing a false internship certificate to the son of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, is leaving the courthouse after the second trial held at the Seoul District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, appeared at the court on the 2nd to face trial for the first time as a member of the National Assembly. During the trial, he suddenly refused to proceed with the remaining trial procedures citing National Assembly schedules, which led to a reprimand from the presiding judge.
On that day, Choi appeared for the second trial on charges including obstruction of business, presided over by Judge Jeong Jong-geon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9. He reportedly avoided the press and headed straight to the courtroom for the trial scheduled at 10 a.m.
During the trial, procedures such as admission or denial of evidence were conducted. Choi’s side agreed only to some of the evidence submitted by the prosecution and mostly denied it on the grounds that it was "irrelevant to the charges." In particular, the defense objected to evidence such as messages from Professor Jeong Gyeong-shim’s mobile phone, Seoul National University admission certificates, and internship confirmation letters, stating that "these have nothing to do with this case."
After completing the evidence admission procedure, the court proceeded with documentary evidence examination. Choi’s side, as a member of the National Assembly, requested the trial to proceed without the defendant due to National Assembly schedules, but the court rejected the request, stating it was "illegal under the Criminal Procedure Act." Choi had planned to hold a press conference at the National Assembly at 11 a.m. that day.
After the trial, as Choi left the courtroom, when asked by reporters why he scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. despite the trial being set for 10 a.m., he replied, "Monday was the Supreme Council meeting, and Tuesday was the earliest possible day for the press conference." When further asked if there could be opinions that holding a press conference on the day of a trial scheduled a month in advance was inappropriate, he answered, "I thought that after the National Assembly convened, informing the public of the party’s position should take precedence over my personal trial."
Choi is accused of issuing a false internship confirmation letter in October 2017 for Cho Mo, son of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, while working as a lawyer at the law firm Cheongmaek, thereby obstructing graduate school admissions work along with former Minister Cho. This document was used for Cho’s graduate school admissions at Korea University and Yonsei University. Cho was ultimately admitted to the political science and diplomacy graduate programs at Korea University and Yonsei University for the 2018 academic year.
Choi’s side completely denied these charges at the first trial in April. Upon attending the first trial, he said, "I am coming to court today due to an illegal and political prosecution by political prosecutors," and added, "As one of the defendants, I intend to speak in detail to seek a lawful judgment based on judicial justice and to ask for a wise decision."
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