Prosecution Seeks 5-Year Prison Term Again for Cho Kuk in Second Trial: "No Sign of Remorse" (Comprehensive)

Jung Kyung-shim and Baek Won-woo Sentenced to 2 Years, Park Hyung-chul Sentenced to 1 Year 6 Months
Sentencing on February 8 Next Year

The prosecution has requested a 5-year prison sentence in the appellate trial for former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including admission fraud involving his children and covering up an inspection.

On the 18th, at the sentencing hearing of former Minister Cho held before the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Kim Woo-su, Kim Jin-ha, Lee In-su), the prosecution requested a sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of 12 million won, and an additional confiscation order of 6 million won. This is the same amount as the first trial.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial for charges of admission fraud involving his children and obstruction of inspection, is attending the second trial continuation hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 18th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Regarding the admission fraud charges, the prosecution pointed out, "The defendant committed the crimes in this case through unfair means using vested interests and networks," adding, "This case, stemming from a misguided perception, has crossed the boundary of moral condemnation and entered the realm of crimes such as forgery and fabrication, and the severity is considerable."

Regarding the charge of covering up the inspection, the prosecution criticized, "The highest official responsible for upholding national discipline abused authority and betrayed the president's trust, constituting a serious crime," and added, "This is a hypocritical 'double standard' case where leniency is shown to our side, yet there is no remorse."

Former Minister Cho was indicted in December 2019 on charges related to his children's admission fraud (obstruction of business, falsification and use of false official documents, etc.) and his daughter Cho Min's illicit receipt of scholarships (bribery). Subsequently, in January of the following year, he was additionally indicted on charges of covering up the inspection of former Busan City Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo while serving as the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs (abuse of authority and obstruction of rights).

The first trial, on February 3 of this year, found him guilty of admission fraud, illicit scholarship receipt by his daughter, and some charges related to covering up the inspection, sentencing former Minister Cho to 2 years in prison and ordering confiscation of 6 million won.

The prosecution requested a 2-year prison sentence for former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim, the wife of former Minister Cho, who was sentenced to 1 year in prison in the first trial.

For Baek Won-woo, former Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs, who was also indicted on the charge of covering up the inspection and received a 10-month prison sentence in the first trial, the prosecution requested 2 years in prison. For Park Hyung-chul, Senior Secretary for Anti-Corruption at the Blue House, who was acquitted, the prosecution requested 1 year and 6 months in prison.

At the previous hearing, the prosecution requested that the first trial sentence (6 months in prison with 1 year probation) for former Busan Medical Center Director Roh Hwan-jung be maintained.

Initially, the defense for former Minister Cho intended to conduct the cross-examination of Professor Jeffrey McDonald, who supervised the online exam of Cho's son, Cho Won, at George Washington University in the U.S., next year. However, they accepted an email written response from Professor McDonald stating, "The misconduct was so minor that I do not believe it constitutes a criminal offense," instead.

Professor McDonald stated, "For academic misconduct to become a crime, it must reach a highly egregious level," and added, "I cannot believe that cheating on two quizzes, which account for 4% of the final grade, has led to criminal prosecution."

The court has scheduled the sentencing for February 8 of next year.