Ruling on Jeong Gyeong-shim: Opposition Lawmakers Say "Yoon Seok-yeol Was Right" ... Concerns Over "Judges Being Attacked"

Jeong Gyeong-sim, wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of entrance exam fraud and private equity fund suspicions, is attending the first trial sentencing hearing held on the 23rd at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] In response to the one-year prison sentence handed down to Jeong Gyeong-sim, a professor at Dongyang University and wife of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, opposition party lawmakers expressed reactions such as "Yoon Seok-yeol (Prosecutor General) was right" and "Justice has been served." Concerns were also raised that attacks against the judges might begin.

On the 23rd, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, welcomed the ruling through Facebook, saying, "In the end, Prosecutor General Yoon was right."

He stated, "When the investigation into the Cho family began, President Moon Jae-in and the ruling party harshly criticized the prosecution, claiming it was an excessive investigation over nothing, and under the pretext of 'unjustly investigating the innocent former Minister Cho,' the 'drive to oust Yoon Seok-yeol' started. However, with this ruling recognizing the crimes of the Cho family, it has been proven that the 'drive to oust Yoon Seok-yeol' has no legitimacy."

Choi Hyung-doo, spokesperson for the People Power Party, also said, "The time for truth and justice has begun," adding, "Truth always has followers, and there is a day when justice is inevitably achieved."

Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam University and head of the People Power Party's Songpa district in Seoul, described the ruling as "a judicial condemnation and national judgment on the shamelessness and duplicity of the left-wing progressives, and a judgment of justice," calling it "justice has been served."

Professor Kim pointedly asked, "For what reason will former Minister Cho criticize the first trial ruling again?" and added, "Former Minister Cho, who praised the Park Geun-hye corruption ruling as a historic judgment, what excuse will he make now before the stern judgment of the judiciary?"

He continued, "Former Minister Cho should now prepare for a 'wise prison life' to get ready for his winter detention," and added, "What will the three Kim defenders of the Democratic Party?Kim Nam-guk, Kim Yong-min, and Kim Jong-min?say this time?"

There were also voices expressing concern about attacks from Cho's supporters against the judges who issued the ruling. Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, said, "I am worried that attacks against the judges might begin now," adding, "The president suddenly calling the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and ruling party lawmakers bringing up impeachment of judges is unusual. It seems we are in the midst of a cultural revolution, a copycat of China's Cultural Revolution."

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