Both Prosecution and Cho Min's Appeals Dismissed
Cho Min, the 33-year-old daughter of Cho Kuk, former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the appeals trial for charges related to entrance exam fraud.
Cho Min, who was prosecuted on charges of entrance exam fraud, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after attending the second trial sentencing hearing on the 23rd. Photo by Yoon Dongju
On the 23rd, the Criminal Appeals Division 2-3 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Cho Euna, Kwak Junghan, and Kang Heeseok) sentenced Cho to a fine of 10 million won, the same as in the first trial, on charges including obstruction of business and use of falsified official documents.
The court stated, "After carefully reviewing the legal principles and records of the original judgment, we find the initial ruling to be justified. There has been no change in the sentencing conditions compared to the first trial, and the sentencing does not exceed the reasonable scope of judicial discretion." The court dismissed both the prosecution's and Cho's appeals.
Previously, in June 2013, Cho was prosecuted for conspiring with former leader Cho Kuk and others to submit falsified documents?such as an internship certificate from the Seoul National University Public Interest Human Rights Law Center and a presidential commendation from Dongyang University?to Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Medicine. She was accused of submitting forged supporting documents. In addition, together with her mother, former Dongyang University professor Chung Kyungshim, Cho was accused of submitting false documents to Pusan National University’s Graduate School of Medicine in June 2014, thereby gaining admission and obstructing the university’s admissions process.
In the first trial, the court found Cho guilty on all charges and sentenced her to a fine of 10 million won. The first trial court stated, "This series of entrance exam fraud offenses causes public distrust and inflicts disappointment and frustration on the majority of people who have worked hard for fair competition, making the conduct highly blameworthy."
Meanwhile, Cho Kuk, who was prosecuted on charges including his children's entrance exam fraud and the cover-up of a Blue House inspection, was sentenced to two years in prison, a verdict finalized in December last year. Former professor Chung Kyungshim, who was prosecuted alongside him for their son Cho Won's entrance exam fraud, received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
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