Joguk "Busan National University Investigation Committee, 'No Impact from Certificate of Commendation'"
Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's statement that "no student failed (the Busan National University School of Medicine entrance exam) because of my daughter" has sparked heated debate.
The starting point was the book concert titled "A Walk Through Legal Classics in Advanced Countries with Advance Payment," held on the afternoon of the 26th at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. In response to a question about the cancellation of his daughter Cho Min's admission to Busan National University School of Medicine, Cho said, "According to the investigation committee's results at Busan National University, the Dongyang University certificate did not affect the admission, and no other student failed because of my daughter."
In response, Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized on the 28th through a statement, saying, "I envy the comfortable cognitive structure that denies with a single word the great sin that trampled on the values of fairness and justice."
As the controversy grew due to media reports, Cho posted on Facebook on the 28th, "There have been many media inquiries about the basis of my answer at the Daegu book concert, so I will respond collectively," and shared the contents of the Busan National University Admission Fairness Management Committee's self-investigation report dated September 30, 2021.
Cho claimed that pages 19 to 21 of the report state that "Cho Min passed the first stage document screening because her official English test scores were outstanding," "the second stage interview did not affect the pass/fail decision," "regarding the problematic career documents, Cho Min listed four experiences on her application but did not submit supporting documents, only submitting the Dongyang University certificate," and "the logic that she would have failed if she had not listed the problematic experiences or submitted the Dongyang University certificate is not valid."
He emphasized, "The above report was disclosed only after Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim's criminal appeal trial," adding, "In other words, the criminal judgment was made without this report." He further stated, "Separately, my daughter Cho Min will humbly accept the court's final ruling."
In response, Kim Geun-sik, professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Gyeongnam National University and chairman of the People Power Party's Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee, posted on Facebook on the 29th a post titled "Regarding Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's absurd claim that his daughter did not pass due to forged documents and that no one failed because of her," saying, "Please stop becoming a monster and be human."
He said, "Many people who cheat on exams are high-achieving or top-ranking students. Even if they get some questions wrong, they are still in the top ranks, but due to strong narcissism and selfishness, they often cheat," and asked, "If someone did not cheat but still ranked that high, does that mean cheating is not punishable?"
He continued, "Should we kindly inform in the 'exam guidelines' that 'cases where cheating does not change the ranking are acceptable'?" and criticized, "Instead of stating in the 'admission guidelines' that 'admission will be canceled if false documents are submitted,' it should be limited to 'admission will be canceled only if false documents caused others to fail.'" He also pointed out, "In sports, doping cases often involve athletes with world-class top-level skills," and questioned, "If an athlete can win without doping, does that mean doping is not a crime even if detected?"
Finally, he said, "The sophistry that 'documents were forged, but since no one failed because of it, it is not a crime' is the ultimate shamelessness only possible for Cho Kuk," and scolded, "Mr. Cho, if the Busan National University investigation team says no one failed because of Cho Min, then why was her admission canceled? Please put your hand on your heart and think about it once."
Earlier, Busan National University canceled Cho Min's admission in April last year based on the freshman admission guidelines stating "admission will be canceled if false documents are submitted," after a ruling in the trial related to former professor Jeong Gyeong-sim found that the Dongyang University president's certificate submitted by Cho Min during the medical school recruitment was forged. Cho filed for a suspension of the admission cancellation order and requested the cancellation of the admission cancellation itself through an administrative lawsuit, but the court dismissed the case.
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