Jomin: "I Even Chat with the Dongyang University President on KakaoTalk"

"Wouldn't Have Submitted If I Knew the Commendation Certificate Would Be a Problem"
"I Don't Think the Commendation Certificate Is Important for Medical School Admission"
Busan District Court to Deliver Verdict at 10 AM on the 6th of Next Month

Cho Min, daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, appeared as a witness on the 16th in the trial related to the cancellation of her admission to the Busan National University School of Medicine, stating, "I was on KakaoTalk terms with the president of Dongyang University, and when I visited Dongyang University, he called me separately to talk."

Cho appeared in court for the plaintiff's witness examination during the hearing held by the Administrative Division 1 of the Busan District Court (Presiding Judge Geum Deok-hee) in the afternoon.

Just before the trial, Cho said in the hallway outside the courtroom, "I will enter the courtroom and respond honestly and sincerely to the best of my knowledge."

In court that day, when asked by the judges whether it was true that she received a certificate of commendation from Dongyang University, Cho said, "I heard from my mother that the president was going to give me a certificate of commendation, so I went to the house in Bangbae-dong and received it. I just remember accepting it without much thought." She added, "I thought the Dongyang University certificate of commendation was not important for medical school admission, so I just let it go. If it had been an award that could cause problems, I probably would not have submitted it."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The court asked, "If you were on KakaoTalk terms with the president, wouldn't you normally at least send a thank-you message, even if it was a certificate from a regional university?" Cho replied, "Mostly, the president contacted me first. Later, when we actually met in Seoul, I expressed my thanks for receiving the certificate."

Cho stated, "Through living my life until now and experiencing this incident, I realized that my parents and I have had a privileged environment and received more benefits than other friends." She continued, "After this happened and false reports followed, the social perception of me was that I was 'vain but had poor grades yet got admitted,' and that I was 'pretentious and vain.'"

Cho became emotional and choked up briefly during her statement. She said, "I did my best as much as others in the given environment," and "If the judge gives me a chance, I will strive to become a person who can contribute to society."

At around 2:39 p.m. that day, after finishing the witness examination, Cho left the courtroom through the back door where no reporters were present.

The verdict is scheduled to be delivered at 10 a.m. on the 6th of next month.

Meanwhile, Busan National University canceled Cho's admission last April based on the freshman recruitment guidelines stating that "admission will be canceled if false documents are submitted," after a ruling in the trial related to Cho's mother, former professor Jeong Gyeong-sim, found that the certificate of commendation from the president of Dongyang University submitted during Cho's medical school application was forged.

In response, Cho filed a request for suspension of the cancellation of admission and a main lawsuit against Busan National University.