Evidence overturning Cho Kuk's hearing statements emerges... Jung Kyung-shim's daughter's classmate says "Spec quid pro quo exists"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 7th, a classmate of Cho Min, the daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk from Han Young Foreign Language High School, appeared as a witness related to 'admission fraud' at the trial of Professor Jeong Gyeongshim of Dongyang University, testifying to the existence of so-called 'spec quid pro quo.'

Physical evidence directly contradicting former Minister Cho's statement at last year's confirmation hearing, where he said, "I was not involved in having Jang intern at the Public Interest and Human Rights Center at Seoul National University Law School," was also disclosed.

At the trial of Professor Jeong held that day at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judge Lim Jeong-yeop), Jang Mo, the son of Professor Jang Young-pyo who listed Cho Min as the first author of a medical paper, appeared as a witness. Jang is a classmate of Cho Min in the study abroad class at Han Young Foreign Language High School.

The prosecution presented an email sent by former Minister Cho to Jang and Cho Min in 2008 when he was a professor at Seoul National University. It stated that in the first half of the following year (2009), an international symposium on the status of the death penalty in the Asia region would be held, and that arrangements would be made for the two to intern there.

This is physical evidence contradicting former Minister Cho's claim at last year's confirmation hearing. At that time, former Minister Cho said regarding the intern suspicion, "I was not involved, and I do not know the name or face of Professor Jang Young-pyo's son," and "It was confirmed that the children connected with the administrative office of the Public Interest Law Center at Seoul National University to intern."

The prosecution presented the transcript of the confirmation hearing containing former Minister Cho's statement and asked Jang, "You have never contacted the administrative office of the Public Interest Law Center at Seoul National University for such (internship purposes), right?" Jang answered, "Yes, I have not."

The prosecution also questioned Jang about his testimony during last year's witness investigation. "You testified, 'In 2007, your father (Professor Jang Young-pyo) said he was providing an internship to Cho Min. Since your father helped build Cho Min's specs, it means you also received help from former Minister Cho to build your specs.' Is this your opinion?"

Jang testified, "I think that is correct," and "I think my father provided the internship to Cho Min so that I could do well." This indicated that there was a spec quid pro quo.

The prosecution believes that Professor Jang gave Cho Min an opportunity for experiential activities at the Dankook University Medical Science Research Institute in 2007, listed her as the first author on a medical paper, and created a false certificate for use in university admissions. In return, former Minister Cho created a false internship record for Professor Jang's son, Jang.

Jang attended a one-day seminar chaired by former Minister Cho in 2009 and recorded "2-week internship" on his high school record.

In the prosecution's investigation, Jang said, "I cannot say I interned just by attending a short seminar once," and "I feel guilty for falsely building my specs." When the prosecution asked about the truth of this statement that day, Jang answered, "Yes."

At the trial that day, whether Cho Min participated in the seminar also became an issue. Last year, Professor Jeong's side released a video showing Cho Min's activities at the seminar. The video showed a female student wearing glasses, and it was claimed that the person was Cho Min.

However, Jang denied this claim by Professor Jeong's side. When the prosecution showed the image of the female student in the video and asked, "Is it correct that this is different from Cho Min's face?" Jang answered, "Yes." He also testified, "Among Han Young Foreign Language High School students, only I attended the seminar, and Cho Min did not attend."

In response, Professor Jeong's lawyer rebutted, "Neither Jang nor Cho Min appears in the seminar video or photos," and "We cannot fully trust this testimony." However, when the court asked Jang, "Are you sure you did not see Cho Min at the seminar?" he answered, "Yes," reaffirming that Cho Min did not attend.

Cho Min received a certificate confirming attendance at the seminar and, like Jang, recorded "2-week internship" on her school record. The prosecution regards this as a false internship.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.