Opposition: "Cho Min’s Seoul National University Admission Should Be Revoked"... Ruling Party: "Allegations of Preferential Internship for Na Kyungwon’s Son"

National Assembly Education Committee Audit Targets Seoul National University
Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers Clash Over Allegations Involving Lawmakers’ Children

On October 28, the ruling and opposition parties clashed during the National Assembly Education Committee's state audit targeting Seoul National University and others, debating the academic credentials of Cho Min, daughter of Cho Kuk, Emergency Committee Chairperson of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and allegations of preferential internship treatment for Kim, son of Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon of the People Power Party.

The National Assembly Education Committee held a state audit on the 28th targeting Seoul National University and others. Photo by Yonhap News.

Seo Jiyeong, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out that while Cho's undergraduate status at Korea University was revoked, her admission to Seoul National University's Graduate School of Environmental Studies has not been canceled. Seo criticized, "Seoul National University and Korea University are deceiving the public."

Seoul National University has officially requested academic verification from Korea University to cancel Cho's admission. However, Korea University maintains that written consent from the individual is required, making confirmation difficult.

Assemblywoman Seo further criticized, "The two universities keep exchanging emails, refusing and responding back and forth, ultimately deceiving the public."

The broader pro-government bloc countered the opposition's criticism by raising the need to investigate allegations that Assemblywoman Na's son received preferential treatment as an intern at Seoul National University while he was still in high school.

Kang Kyungsook of the Innovation Party stated, "There are suspicions that during high school, Na's son interned at Professor Yoon's laboratory at Seoul National University College of Medicine, and used that experience to gain admission to a prestigious American university."

Baek Seungah of the Democratic Party pointed out, "After the allegations were raised, a professor from Seoul National University gave a direct interview, saying, 'I accepted Na's son as an intern at her request.' However, there is no official internship program in that laboratory."