"Except for the One Top, Really Hard to Choose"... Jo Guk, Overwhelming No.1 'Embarrassing Alumni of Seoul National University'

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk ranked first for three consecutive years in the '2021 Embarrassing Alumni Award' voted by Seoul National University alumni.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk once again took first place in the '2021 Embarrassing Alumni Award' voted by Seoul National University members. This marks the third consecutive year he has ranked first since 2019.

According to Seoul National University's online community 'SnuLife,' the 'Embarrassing Alumni Award' voting was held for a week from the 12th to the 18th. SnuLife is an internet community accessible only through authentication with a Seoul National University email account, and is used by current students, alumni, and faculty members of Seoul National University. The candidates listed for the vote were selected based on frequent media exposure from January to May and alumni recommendations, totaling 22 individuals.

In the vote, former Minister Cho received the highest number of votes with 1,274 votes (93%) out of a total of 1,369 votes. He previously ranked first in the first half of 2019 and the first half of 2020 as well.

Following him, Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, received 681 votes (49%), and Park Jumin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, received 651 votes (47%), placing second and third respectively.

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don (408 votes, 29%), former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Byun Chang-heum (392 votes, 28%), former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan (285 votes, 20%), Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myung-soo (277 votes, 20%), and Democratic Party member Lee Nak-yeon (277 votes, 20%) followed.

On the other hand, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who has emerged as a leading opposition presidential candidate, received only 14 votes, accounting for 1%. Yoon previously ranked first in the '2020 Second Half Proud Alumni Award' held at the end of 2020.

Community members commented, "There are no three people on the same level as former Minister Cho, so it's difficult to choose," "It's really hard to pick except for the one top candidate," and "As expected, it's overwhelming."