[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] Korea University has canceled the admission of a student who was admitted by submitting false documents before the related criminal judgment was finalized. This contrasts with the case of Professor Jeong Gyeong-shim of Dongyang University, who was found guilty in the first trial for admission fraud, yet the cancellation of admission for her daughter, Jo, was deferred.
According to the legal community on the 17th, the Seoul High Court Civil Division 3 (Chief Judge Shim Jun-bo) ruled against plaintiff A in the appeal trial of the lawsuit filed against Korea Joongang Academy, the foundation of Korea University, seeking confirmation of the invalidity of the admission cancellation. The court stated, "The disadvantage suffered by A due to the cancellation of admission cannot be considered minor," but added, "Considering the significant value of fairness in admissions being severely undermined, the disadvantage to A is not greater than the public value secured by the cancellation of admission."
Previously, in 2014, A was admitted through the special admission track for special education candidates at Korea University’s College of Business, attaching a disability certificate issued by the Gangnam District Office. However, in December 2017, three years later, it was confirmed that the certificate was forged by A’s mother. Accordingly, Korea University notified A of the cancellation of admission in the same month. Jo filed a lawsuit claiming that this action was "excessive."
Separately, B, A’s mother who actually forged the certificate, stood trial on charges including forgery of official documents. In the first trial in 2019, she was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation, and the sentence was finalized by the Supreme Court in February last year. From A’s perspective, admission was canceled three years before B’s judgment was finalized.
On the other hand, Korea University has shown a contrasting stance regarding Jo, the daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and Professor Jeong. Earlier in April, Korea University stated in an official letter to the Ministry of Education that "judicial proceedings regarding Jo’s admission fraud allegations are currently ongoing," and "actions according to relevant regulations will be taken after the final judgment."
A Korea University official explained, "In A’s case, the cancellation of admission was decided based on the admission materials retained by the university, as the period (five years) stipulated by the 'Admission Materials Disposal Guidelines' had not passed." The official added, "Jo was admitted more than five years ago, so the university does not have the admission materials, and actions can only be taken after the final court judgment when the submitted documents can be secured." Jo was admitted to Korea University’s College of Life Sciences in 2010 through the early admission track (World Leading Talent Track).
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