Former Chairman of Kwangwoon Academy Sentenced to Probation in Appeal Trial for Embezzlement of School Funds

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Jo Moo-sung (78), former chairman of the Kwangwoon Foundation, who was sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial for embezzling Kwangwoon University funds, received a reduced sentence in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 1-1 of the Seoul Northern District Court (Presiding Judges Kim Ji-chul, Lee Geun-young, and Noh Jin-young) overturned the original verdict on the 23rd in the appeal trial of former Chairman Jo, who was charged with embezzlement in the course of duty, and sentenced him to one year in prison with a two-year probation.

Former Chairman Jo was sentenced to one year in prison and detained in the first trial but was released on bail last month. Both former Chairman Jo and the prosecution filed appeals against the first trial verdict. On the 26th of last month, during the second trial’s closing arguments, the prosecution demanded one year and six months in prison, the same as the original sentence.

The appellate court stated, "Although the defendant’s crime period was long and the amount of damage was considerable, we took into account that he fully admitted to the crime and showed remorse."

Previously, former Chairman Jo was tried on charges of embezzling approximately 168 million KRW of Kwangwoon University funds 94 times from 2011 to 2014 while serving as chairman of the Kwangwoon Foundation, and using the money to pay salaries for security guards and the chairman’s personal vehicle driver.

The first trial court sentenced former Chairman Jo to one year in prison, stating, "Considering that innocent students inevitably suffered damage, the nature of the crime is serious."

Jo, the second son of the late Dr. Jo Kwang-woon, founder of the Kwangwoon Foundation, was also sentenced to five years in prison and detained in court in 2015 by the Seoul Northern District Court for receiving bribes amounting to hundreds of millions of won in the process of securing construction contracts for the Kwangwoon University campus and hiring teachers at the foundation’s affiliated high school (charges including breach of trust and bribery). In the second trial of this case, some charges were acquitted, and he was released on probation.

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