Cho Kuk on Professor Jeong Gyeongshim's 4-Year Prison Sentence: "I'm Stunned and Heartbroken"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk shared Professor Baek Tae-woong's Facebook post about the appeal trial of Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim. Photo by Former Minister Cho's Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk expressed his frustration, saying he was "dumbfounded and heartbroken" over the fact that his wife, Professor Jeong Gyeongshim of Dongyang University, was sentenced to four years in prison and detained in the first trial.

On the 12th, Cho shared a post on his Facebook, sharing a post by Professor Baek Tae-woong of the University of Hawaii Law School, expressing these feelings.

In his post, Professor Baek stated, "On the day of the Seoul National University Law Conference, I met Cho Min in person at the Baekjoo Centennial Hall and had a direct conversation with her. I even submitted a written statement about the content to the court," adding, "Since it is clear that Cho Min volunteered that day, I ask the appellate court to pay close attention and carefully review this matter again."

Professor Jeong was convicted last December on charges related to her children's admission fraud and private equity fund investments. At that time, she was found guilty of forging an internship certificate from the Seoul National University Public Interest and Human Rights Law Center, forging a certificate of commendation from Dongyang University, and falsely listing herself as the first author on a paper from the Dankook University Medical Research Team.

However, regarding the private equity fund case, she was only found guilty of three trades of WFM stock using undisclosed information, earning approximately 230 million won from insider trading, and making investments under a borrowed name. She was acquitted of charges including embezzling about 150 million won through a false consulting contract with the asset management company Kolink Private Equity (Kolink PE) and falsely inflating the committed investment amount in the private equity fund to make false reports.

The prosecution subsequently demanded a seven-year prison sentence for Professor Jeong in the appeal trial on the 12th. At the appeal sentencing hearing held on the 12th at the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1-2 (Presiding Judges Eom Sangpil, Shim Dam, and Lee Seungryeon), the prosecution requested the court to sentence the defendant to seven years in prison, impose a fine of 900 million won, and order the confiscation of approximately 160 million won.

In her final statement, Professor Jeong expressed her hope, saying, "I earnestly wish for the day when my innocence is proven through the trial and I can return to my daily life to come soon." The second trial verdict for Professor Jeong is scheduled for the 11th of next month.

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