'Targeted Investigation to Oust Cho Kuk'... Jung Kyung-shim "The Truth Will Be Revealed" (Comprehensive Report 3)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Jo] The prosecution has demanded a 7-year prison sentence for Jung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University and spouse of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including admission fraud involving their children and illegal investment in private equity funds. Upon hearing the prosecution's demand, Professor Jung lowered her head and shed tears. In her final statement, she tearfully said, "The charges will be cleared, and the truth will be revealed." After more than a year of trial proceedings, the court decided to deliver the verdict on the 23rd of next month.

Professor Jeong Kyung-shim, Dongyang University. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Prosecution: "Rule of law must be established"... Jung Kyung-shim sheds tears at sentencing demand

On the 5th, at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-2 (Presiding Judge Lim Jeong-yeop), during the sentencing hearing for Professor Jung, the prosecution requested the court to "make a ruling that serves as an opportunity to establish the rule of law." They also requested a fine of 900 million KRW related to the violation of the Capital Markets Act and an order to confiscate 164.61 million KRW.

In their sentencing opinion, the prosecution defined the case as "a criminal investigation activated to uncover the substantive truth regarding allegations of corruption involving living power raised by civil society." They added, "Only crimes with clearly confirmed charges based on lawful evidence during the investigation were prosecuted," and "The crimes charged were serious and could not be tolerated or overlooked given their gravity."

The prosecution further stated, "The facts charged have been proven to the extent that reasonable doubt is excluded," and warned, "If accountability for corruption is not pursued, the rule of law in our country could fall into darkness." They expressed concern that "South Korea could become a criminal haven for those with political and economic power, allowing corruption to flourish," and urged the court to carefully consider the case based on strict judgment according to the Constitution and laws.

During the sentencing demand, Professor Jung glared at the prosecutors several times but eventually removed her glasses and wiped away tears with a handkerchief when the sentence was announced. Gasps were heard from the gallery, and one spectator even uttered a curse. The presiding judge detained the spectator, held a contempt trial, confiscated their gallery pass, and barred them from attending the sentencing date.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prosecution criticizes each charge... "Excessive illegal methods employed"

Professor Jung was tried on charges of falsifying various documents, including a certificate of commendation issued in the name of the Dongyang University president in 2013-2014, which were used for her daughter's admission to Seoul National University and Pusan National University medical schools. She is also accused of investing under a false name in the private equity firm Kolink Private Equity (Kolink PE) to avoid public official ethics regulations after Cho Kuk was appointed Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House, embezzling about 150 million KRW through a false consulting contract. Additionally, she is charged with instructing asset manager Kim Kyung-rok to remove PCs from her home and Dongyang University research lab ahead of the prosecution's investigation.

In their final opinion, the prosecution sharply criticized these charges. Regarding the admission fraud, they said, "The defendant couple, as university professors, had the duty to teach truth to students and lead efforts to prevent academic fraud, yet they resorted to excessive illegal means for their child's success," adding, "They undermined the core value of fairness in the admission system, causing many young people and their parents to feel a sense of loss and despair."

Regarding the illegal private equity investment allegations, the prosecution defined it as "a case of pursuing unjust personal gain and a new form of collusion between political and economic power." They criticized, "The defendant invested a large sum, dreaming of becoming a building owner in Gangnam, to Cho Beom-dong, a 5th cousin of Cho Kuk, who promised massive asset growth," and "She abused her public position to secure preferential profits from Cho Beom-dong."

On the charge of evidence tampering, the prosecution stated, "The defendant concealed the truth of this case, infringing on the minister's verification rights and the constitutional principle of popular sovereignty," and pointed out, "At the time of Cho Kuk's appointment, she also coerced false statements from related parties, which obstructed and infringed upon the president's right to appoint public officials."

Attorney Kim Chil-jun [Image source=Yonhap News]

Defense: "Prosecution's investigation was a targeted probe to bring down Cho Kuk"

In her final defense, Professor Jung's legal team strongly criticized the prosecution's investigation. The defense attorney claimed, "This was a typical targeted investigation aimed at bringing down former Minister Cho Kuk," and added, "The methods were unprecedentedly excessive." They continued, "The prosecution mobilized forced investigations to indict the entire family, ultimately succeeding, and Cho Kuk could not endure and resigned," sarcastically remarking, "I am very curious how this will be recorded in the history of the South Korean prosecution."

The defense team, as in previous hearings, denied all charges. Regarding the certificate forgery charge, they argued that the discovery of the university president's seal on the PC and other evidence was illegally obtained and thus a not guilty verdict should be rendered. On the admission fraud charges, they stated, "Under an admission system structure that demands specifications, everyone was placed in similar situations; it was not a special circumstance unique to Professor Jung's family."

Regarding the private equity fund allegations, the defense stated, "Professor Jung was unaware of the embezzlement by Cho Beom-dong, a 5th cousin of former Minister Cho Kuk, and did not participate," emphasizing, "The essence of this case is that Professor Jung invested simply to increase assets and suffered losses; she was rather a victim exploited by fraudulent unfair transactions." On the use of a false-name account, they stressed there was no intent to evade the law, and during last year's hearing, there was no awareness of evidence tampering or forgery.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jung Kyung-shim: "Mixed emotions considering spouse's resignation"

In her final statement, Professor Jung said, "I tried to stand calmly here today, but it is undeniable that the weight of this case has been very hard on my mind and body," adding, "Thinking about the circumstances that led my spouse, who was appointed to public office, to resign, I am filled with mixed emotions." She continued, "After my spouse, who was a scholar, became a public official, we tried not to cause trouble, but at one moment, the entire family became the subject of investigation and fell into disgrace helplessly," and said, "During the search and seizure, more than ten years of my life were stripped bare, and I fell into a serious crisis about living."

Professor Jung tearfully expressed her grievances regarding the charge of forging the Dongyang University certificate. She said, "The prosecution's indictment differs greatly from my memory," and questioned, "How could the president have known about the issuance of the certificate when I never told him?" She further asked, "Why would I have thanked President Choi Seong-hae for the certificate?" and "Would President Choi have said, 'If you had applied to Kyungpook National University instead of Pusan National University, I could have fully supported you'?"

Regarding the illegal private equity investment allegations, she said, "I did not know much about private equity funds and tried to ask around and avoid causing trouble as a spouse of a public official."

Professor Jung also bowed her head to those around her who became subjects of investigation because of her. She said, "This case has completely destroyed decades of human relationships," and "No one closely connected to me escaped the blade of hardship." She added, "Many became subjects of investigation, and their families became targets of criticism," and "I take this opportunity to bow my head and apologize to the many acquaintances who suffered humiliation and pain."

Addressing the court, Professor Jung said, "I hope you carefully review the materials and deliver a wise judgment so that there is no injustice." She said, "After completing the prosecution's investigation and appearing in court, I held hope," and "I hope the charges piled upon me will be cleared and the truth revealed. Though I am not well-versed in the law, I hope this hope will come true."

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