Busan National University Forms Investigation Team for Cho Min Allegations... Yoo Eun-hye: "Presumption of Innocence Must Not Be Violated"

Busan National University to Form Fairness Management Committee and Dedicated Team for Fact Investigation
Yoo Eun-hye: "Court Rulings and University Administrative Actions Are Separate"
Retroactive Application of Higher Education Act on Submission of False Data Is Difficult

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Pusan National University has formed an investigation team to conduct fact-finding and hearings regarding Cho Min, the daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is suspected of fraudulent admission.

On the 24th, at the 18th Education Trust Recovery Promotion Team meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "Pusan National University reported a plan of action to promptly conclude the matter by forming a Fairness Management Committee and a dedicated team within the university to conduct fact-finding investigations."

Minister Yoo explained, "It is not considered a violation of the presumption of innocence principle for a university, which holds the authority to cancel admissions, to investigate facts related to suspected admission fraud within the university and take appropriate measures. We reviewed that the university has an obligation to investigate the facts and take a series of actions regarding the admission suspicions."

Regarding whether admission cancellation is possible before the court's final ruling, the Ministry of Education explained that "it is possible for universities to investigate facts related to suspected admission fraud and take measures separately from criminal trials." Although Pusan National University expressed its intention to proceed with actions after the final ruling, the Ministry concluded that fact-finding and measures can be taken independently of the trial.

Earlier, the court acknowledged at the end of last year in the first trial of Professor Jung Kyung-shim, Cho’s mother, that forged documents such as a certificate from Dongyang University were submitted for admission to the medical school. According to Article 34-6 of the Higher Education Act, if false documents are submitted, the university must cancel the admission. However, the Ministry of Education judged that since this law has been in effect since June last year, it is difficult to apply it retroactively to Cho, who was admitted in 2015.

Regarding the private school innovation plan, Minister Yoo said, "This year, we will complete comprehensive audits of 16 large-scale private universities with more than 6,000 students and will also promote audits within the next five years for 94 small- and medium-sized universities with fewer than 6,000 students that have never been audited since their establishment." Since the second half of last year, the Ministry of Education has audited nine universities including Kyung Hee University, Korea University, Sogang University, Yonsei University, and Hongik University, uncovering a total of 448 cases, recovering 3.53 billion KRW of improperly used funds, and taking actions such as filing 113 cases for prosecution and investigation requests.

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