Law "'Please Intern at Severance' Report... Jo Guk and Jo Min Ordered to Pay 7 Million Won Each"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's side filed a lawsuit claiming damages regarding media reports that his daughter, Cho Min, personally requested an internship at Severance Hospital, and the court recognized the media company's liability for compensation.

On the 8th, according to former Minister Cho's representative, neither party objected to the court's recommendation for settlement, and thus the court's decision was finalized as is.

The Civil Division 14 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Seo Bomin) recommended a settlement on December 23 last year in the damages lawsuit filed by former Minister Cho and Cho Min against reporters from Chosun Ilbo, stating, "Considering the parties' interests for a fair resolution of the case and all other circumstances." The court ordered Chosun Ilbo to pay 7 million won each to former Minister Cho and Cho Min.

On the 6th, Jomin appeared on Kim Eo-jun's YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Hard News Factory' for an interview. Photo by Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Hard News Factory YouTube capture

On that day, former Minister Cho's side explained, "The original purpose of filing the lawsuit was not monetary gain but to acknowledge the falsity of the article. We accepted the settlement recommendation because the court recognized the illegality of the Chosun Ilbo article."

They added, "Former Minister Cho, Cho Min, and their family earnestly hope that the 'if not true, so be it' style of reporting that infringes on personal dignity without fulfilling the minimum 'fact-checking' obligation required of the media will no longer be repeated," and "We once again request fair and objective reporting that respects human dignity and value."

Previously, former Minister Cho's side filed a damages lawsuit claiming a total of 400 million won in consolation damages against two reporters from Chosun Ilbo, the head of the social affairs department, and the editor-in-chief. The article in question was published on the print edition on August 28, 2020, reporting that Cho Min unilaterally visited the dermatology department at Severance Hospital, met with Professor A, a department head, and expressed a desire to intern there after passing the medical licensing exam. It also included that Professor A conveyed to superiors that he felt embarrassed and burdened by this.

At the time, former Minister Cho's side stated regarding the report, "We never made such a request or plea to anyone at Severance Hospital," and "The entire content of the article is fabricated." They further argued, "The article completely falsified facts to incite hatred and insult against former Minister Cho and his daughter," and "It raises suspicion that the article was created with a clear malicious intent to defame by fabricating facts."

Former Minister Cho's side also criticized Chosun Ilbo's 'Correction' published the day after the report, saying, "Although it was stated that the issue occurred during the process of confirming the 'second source,' there was no sincere apology such as an investigation into the fabrication, the reporters and responsible parties involved, or acceptance of legal responsibility," and "As a result, the comments on the 'Correction' have continued with additional defamation and baseless suspicions."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of admission corruption involving his children and covering up an inspection, is leaving the court after being sentenced to two years in prison at 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]

Meanwhile, on the 3rd, former Minister Cho was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial for charges including involvement in his children's admission bribery. However, he was not detained in court due to no risk of evidence destruction.

The first trial court, Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-1 (Presiding Judge Ma Seongyoung), recognized most charges related to former Minister Cho's children's admission bribery as guilty. However, it acquitted him of charges such as violating the Public Official Ethics Act by failing to submit a blank trust of assets and falsely reporting assets when appointed as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, and instructing private banker Kim Kyungrok to hide hard disks from his home PC (obstruction of evidence). It also partially acquitted him of charges related to abuse of power and obstruction of rights in covering up the inspection of former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo while serving as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.