‘Admission Scandal and Investigation Cover-up’ Former Minister Cho Kuk, First Trial Verdict Today

Prosecution Applies a Total of 11 Charges

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of admission fraud involving his children and covering up an inspection, will face the first trial court's judgment on the 3rd. It has been about 3 years and 2 months since his indictment in December 2019.

At 2 p.m. that day, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-1 (Presiding Judges Ma Seongyoung, Kim Jeonggon, Jang Yongbeom) will conduct the first trial sentencing hearing for former Minister Cho Kuk, his wife Jeong Gyeongsim, former Dongyang University professor, Noh Hwanjoong, director of Busan Medical Center, former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Baek Wonwoo, and former Blue House Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyeongcheol.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim

The prosecution applied a total of 11 charges against former Minister Cho. He was indicted on charges of admission fraud involving his children (obstruction of business, forgery and use of false official documents, forgery of private documents, etc.) and illegal receipt of his daughter's scholarship (bribery). He is also charged with violating the obligation of blind trust under the Public Officials Ethics Act by falsely reporting assets when he was appointed as the Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, and instructing private banker (PB) Kim Kyungrok to hide the hard disk of his home PC (obstruction of evidence).

Additionally, he is accused of covering up an inspection related to former Busan Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs Yoo Jae-soo while serving as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs (abuse of authority and obstruction of exercise of rights).

Former Professor Jeong was sentenced to 4 years in prison by the Supreme Court in January last year for her daughter's admission fraud charges, but on this day, she will face the first trial court's judgment for her son's admission fraud charges.

At the previous closing argument hearing, the prosecution requested the court to sentence former Minister Cho to 5 years in prison, impose a fine of 12 million won, and confiscate 6 million won. They stated, "It is most regrettable that even at this point after the trial has ended, the defendants do not admit even the clear facts," adding, "The defendants ignore the evidence and show no remorse, but we believe that through the trial, the truth and the judgment consistent with common sense will be revealed."

Furthermore, they emphasized, "The rule of law is not a profound theory but can stand only when ordinary and obvious common sense?that anyone who commits wrongdoing is punished?is realized," and urged, "Please ensure that this common sense is upheld."

In his final statement, former Minister Cho appealed, "I was nominated as Minister of Justice by former President Moon Jae-in and faced indiscriminate attacks from the prosecution and the media," adding, "Every day felt like living in hell." He continued, "Thousands of pages of text messages on my family's PC became a subject of public ridicule and evidence of guilt," and "I was powerless before the overwhelming prosecutorial power."

Nevertheless, he added, "I reflect on applying a lax standard and also on failing to meet the expectations of many people properly."