Prosecution Seeks 10-Month Prison Sentence for Former Seoul National University Staff Accused of Perjury in Jeong Gyeongshim Trial

Sentencing Date Scheduled for November 14

The prosecution requested a prison sentence for Kim Mo, a former secretary-general of the Seoul National University Public Interest Human Rights Law Center, who was indicted on charges of perjury in the trial of Jeong Gyeong-sim, former Dongyang University professor and wife of Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, in the 'children's school admission corruption' case.

At Kim's perjury trial held under the presiding of Judge Kim Taek-hyung of the Criminal Division 9 at the Seoul Central District Court, the prosecution asked for a 10-month prison sentence for Kim.

The prosecution stated, "This case is a socially significant issue," and added, "It is clear that the perjury was intended to influence the trial. The nature of the crime is quite serious, so strict punishment is necessary."

In his final statement, Kim said, "My memory of the people I met only once about ten years ago is not perfect, but I testified to the best of my recollection," and added, "I testified based on my memory at that time, and four years have passed. Please also take into account that there may be errors in my testimony."

Kim's sentencing date is scheduled for November 14.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim was indicted on charges of perjury for testifying as a witness in May 2020 during the trial of former professor Jeong on charges of children's school admission corruption, claiming that "Jo Min attended a seminar in 2009, and I instructed the students who came with Jo to carry desks and interpret."

The prosecution judged this as perjury, stating that Jo did not attend the seminar, and even if she had, Kim did not give such instructions.

The prosecution indicted Jo and his wife separately, concluding that Jo did not attend the seminar nor perform intern activities but still obtained a 'false internship certificate.'

The first trial court for former professor Jeong confirmed that the female student in the seminar video was not Jo and recognized the internship certificate as false. The second trial court acknowledged that the internship certificate was false but stated, "Whether the woman in the video is Jo Min does not affect the falsity of the certificate," and did not make a separate judgment. This ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court, and former professor Jeong was sentenced to four years in prison.

The first and second trial courts for former Minister Jo also recognized the Seoul National University Public Interest Human Rights Law Center seminar internship certificate as false evidence. Jo was sentenced to two years in prison in the second trial and has appealed.