'Wongdong Hakwon Corruption Allegations' Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's Brother Released on Bail in Second Trial

Cho Kwon, the younger brother of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who has been indicted on charges including false lawsuits and corruption in teacher recruitment./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Jo Kwon, the younger brother of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was sentenced to prison and detained in the first trial on charges including corruption in teacher recruitment at Woongdong Academy and a sham lawsuit, has been released on bail in the appellate trial.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Yeonwook Park) accepted Jo's bail request on the 2nd. Accordingly, Jo will now face the appellate trial without detention. As conditions for bail, the court required Jo to pay a deposit of 30 million KRW and pledge not to engage in evidence tampering. Additionally, his residence was restricted to his home in Busan, and he was ordered not to contact persons related to the case.

Previously, Jo was arrested and indicted in November 2019 on charges of receiving 180 million KRW from two applicants and providing them with exam questions and answers while recruiting teachers at Woongdong Middle School from 2016 to the following year, during his tenure as the secretary-general of Woongdong Academy. He has also been on trial for securing construction payment claims based on false construction work and filing a sham lawsuit against Woongdong Academy.

Jo was released once in May last year during the first trial but was re-arrested after being sentenced to one year in prison. Since then, he has been undergoing the appellate trial while detained, with his detention period set to expire this month. Jo's next hearing is scheduled for the 11th.