Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk Appears in Court as Defendant for the First Time... "I Will Fight Without Getting Tired"

by Choi Sukjin

by Kim HyeongMin

Published 08 May.2020 09:56(KST)

Updated 08 May.2020 10:23(KST)

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Cho Kuk: "I will refute the allegations distorted and exaggerated by the prosecution in court"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including bribery, is attending the first trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seokjin Choi and Hyungmin Kim] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of family corruption and obstruction of inspection, appeared at the court on the 8th to attend the first trial date.

At around 9:42 a.m., Cho, wearing a mask, arrived at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, and told the waiting press, "There was a wide-ranging investigation by the prosecution, and I was even indicted. It was a painful moment."

He continued, "Now the trial has begun. I will refute each of the distorted and exaggerated charges by the prosecution based on facts and law. It will take a long time, but I will fight without getting tired."

He also requested the media, "Please do not just report the prosecution's allegations as they are, but faithfully cover the defense counsel's cross-examination during the trial."

On this day, Cho will stand as a defendant for the first time in the trial over charges including bribery and abuse of authority, held under the Criminal Division 21 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Miri).

As the court stated in the previous preparatory hearing, the trial will first proceed with the 'inspection obstruction' case.

Therefore, Park Hyungcheol, former Anti-Corruption Secretary, and Baek Wonwoo, former Civil Affairs Secretary, who were indicted for involvement in the inspection obstruction case related to former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo, also appeared in court that day.

On the other hand, Cho's wife, Professor Jung Kyung-shim of Dongyang University, did not attend.

The court plans to hear the charges and the defendant's opinions in the morning, and in the afternoon, summon former Blue House Special Inspection Team Leader Lee In-gul as a witness for questioning.

Cho Kuk was brought to trial on charges including abusing authority to halt the inspection of former Deputy Mayor Yoo by the Blue House Civil Affairs Office's Special Inspection Team in 2017 and failing to take follow-up measures.