"Let's Reform Judicial Corruption" Pro-Democratic and Moon Jae-in Supporters... 'Boiling Over' at Jung Kyung-shim's Prison Sentence

Jung Kyung-shim Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison and Detained in First Trial for Child Admission Fraud
Pro-Moon and Moonppa Express Outrage: "Judiciary is a Deep-rooted Evil, Let's Reform the Courts"
Jung Kyung-shim's Side: "Will Appeal"

Jeong Gyeong-shim, wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including admission corruption involving her children and suspicions of private equity fund investment, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held on the afternoon of the 23rd at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Professor Jeong was sentenced to four years in prison and was taken into custody in the courtroom. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Jung Kyung-shim, wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was prosecuted on charges including admission bribery involving their children, was sentenced to four years in prison and detained in court in the first trial. Amid this, some 'Chinmun' (pro-Moon Jae-in) and 'Munppa' (a derogatory term for people who blindly support President Moon Jae-in) have been pouring out criticism, saying they cannot accept the court's ruling.

Some have even made extreme remarks calling for judicial reform alongside prosecutorial reform. The 'Chinmun' and 'Munppa' factions view the judiciary as part of the deep-rooted evils and are unable to accept the court's sentencing results. Meanwhile, some respect the first trial's verdict but criticize the decision to detain Jung Kyung-shim in court as incomprehensible.

On an online community where supporters and members of the Democratic Party of Korea gather, posts criticizing Jung's detention in court have continued alongside related news articles.

One supporter strongly distrusted the court's sentencing, calling it a "deep-rooted evil judiciary." Another supporter said, "We probably need to go through all three trials," emphasizing that there is no problem with the first trial's verdict announced today (the 23rd).

Meanwhile, another pro-Moon supporter expressed frustration, saying, "This is really not the law! This is why the people cannot trust and hate the unfair prosecutors and pansae (a derogatory term for judges)!!"

Another supporter of the Moon Jae-in administration lamented, "Is this the result we wanted..? Is this the right direction? Why are we being driven into a wilderness where we bleed and get hurt?" expressing an inability to understand the court's ruling.

Attorney Kim Chil-jun, defense lawyer for Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University, is answering questions from the press after the first trial sentencing hearing of Professor Jeong held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 23rd.

Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim, who was prosecuted on charges including admission fraud involving her children and private equity fund investment suspicions, was sentenced to 4 years in prison and fined 500 million won, and was taken into custody in court that day. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Another supporter said, "Let's see what happens to Yoon Seok-yeol's mother-in-law." Also, Kim, a company employee in his 30s who supports the Democratic Party, said, "While I accept the court's verdict, the detention in court seems a bit excessive."

Earlier, the Criminal Division 25-2 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Im Jeong-yeop, Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee) sentenced Professor Jung to four years in prison and fined her 500 million won, detaining her in court on the 23rd.

Professor Jung was prosecuted on charges of using forged Dongyang University president’s certificates and falsely prepared internship documents from Seoul National University Public Interest Human Rights Law Center and universities (such as Kongju National University and Dankook University) to interfere with the admission screening process of Seoul National University and Pusan National University Medical School.

She is also accused of receiving undisclosed information about WFM, a secondary battery company invested in by the private equity firm Kolink Private Equity (PE), operated by Cho Mo, a fifth cousin of former Minister Cho Kuk, and using it to purchase stocks worth approximately 713 million won under a borrowed name.

Regarding this, the court acquitted her of money received as consulting fees related to Kolink PE. Considering recent COVID-19 cases at Seoul Detention Center and Seoul Eastern Detention Center, the court decided to detain Professor Jung at Seoul Southern Detention Center.

Meanwhile, Kim Chil-jun, attorney for Professor Jung, told reporters immediately after the sentencing that they will appeal. Professor Jung had been on trial without detention after being released in May due to the expiration of her detention period.

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