Jokuk, Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison in First Trial for Charges Including 'Children's Admission Corruption'

Court: "Repeated offenses over several years, poor criminal nature"

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was prosecuted on charges including admission fraud involving his children, was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial. However, the court did not detain Cho Kuk in custody, judging that there was no risk of evidence tampering.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-1 (Chief Judge Ma Seong-young) sentenced former Minister Cho Kuk to two years in prison and ordered a fine of 6 million won on the 3rd for charges including forgery and use of false official documents and obstruction of business. This came about 3 years and 2 months after his indictment in December 2019.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of admission fraud involving his children and covering up an inspection, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The court recognized most of the admission fraud charges involving Cho Kuk's son and daughter as guilty. The part where he received 6 million won from Roh Hwan-jung, director of Busan Medical Center, under the pretext of a scholarship for his daughter was not considered a bribe but was judged to have violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The court also found him guilty of charges related to covering up the special inspection by the Blue House's special audit team on former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo.

The court stated, "The crimes were repeatedly committed over several years, showing a bad nature of the offense," and "The social trust in the fairness of the admission system has been seriously damaged, so the culpability is heavy."

Jung Kyung-shim, former professor at Dongyang University and spouse of Cho Kuk, who was jointly indicted as an accomplice in the children's admission fraud, was additionally sentenced to one year in prison on the same day. Jung was also indicted on charges related to her daughter's admission fraud and private equity funds and has been confirmed to serve a four-year prison sentence.

Roh, the director, was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year probation, former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Baek Won-woo was sentenced to ten months in prison, and former Blue House Anti-Corruption Secretary Park Hyung-chul was acquitted.