Court Holds First Trial Today for Former Minister Cho Kuk's 'Family Corruption' Charges... Daughter's 'Busan National University Medical School Scholarship' Included

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk (left) and his wife, Professor Jung Kyung-shim of Dongyang University. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The trial concerning former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's family-related allegations, including those involving his children, will begin on the 4th.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Kim Mi-ri) will hold a preparatory hearing at 10:30 a.m. on that day regarding bribery and violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act charges against former Minister Cho, his wife Professor Jung Kyung-shim, and No Hwan-jung, director of Busan Medical Center.

Having concluded the trial on the abuse of authority charge related to the cover-up of the investigation into former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo until last month, the court will start hearing the family corruption charges against former Minister Cho from that day.

While only former Minister Cho was indicted in the previous abuse of authority case involving former Deputy Mayor Yoo, both former Minister Cho and Professor Jung were jointly indicted as accomplices in the family corruption case.

There is no obligation for the defendants to appear at the preparatory hearing, so it is expected that the two will not attend the courtroom.

Previously, the prosecution regarded the 6 million won scholarship received by former Minister Cho’s daughter from November 2017 to October of the following year at Busan National University Medical School as a bribe, applying charges of bribery and violations of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Former Minister Cho is also accused of involvement in his children’s admission irregularities, including falsely obtaining a certificate of planned internship activities at Seoul National University Public Interest Human Rights Law Center for his son and submitting it to Han Young Foreign Language High School.

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