Prosecution, Now the Time Toward Cho Kuk

Preparation of Trial Submission Statement
Details of Evidence Concealment and Gongmo by Jeong Gyeongshim
Includes Verdict on Daughter Jo Min's False Credentials

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] It was confirmed on the 12th that the prosecution has begun preparing a written opinion to be submitted to the trial of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk immediately after the appellate court’s sentencing of Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University. The written opinion will include the ruling that former Minister Cho directly forged two false specifications of his daughter Cho Min and instructed the asset manager to conceal evidence.

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy, the prosecution plans to submit the written opinion soon to the first trial court of former Minister Cho, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-1 (Presiding Judge Ma Seong-yeong). The opinion will summarize the first and second trial rulings on Professor Jeong that two of the '7 major specs'?which include Cho Min’s internship and research assistant activities at Dankook University, Seoul National University, and Dongyang University?were fabricated by former Minister Cho. The prosecution will also include in the opinion the charge of instructing evidence concealment, which was overturned as guilty in Professor Jeong’s second trial.

The day before, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1-2 (Presiding Judge Eom Sang-pil) concluded that all of the so-called '7 major specs' related to Professor Jeong’s daughter Cho’s college admissions were false and ruled them guilty. The court particularly upheld the first trial’s judgment that former Minister Cho directly forged the Seoul National University internship certificate and also fabricated the internship certificate from the Busan Aqua Palace Hotel. These are factual issues currently contested in former Minister Cho’s trial as well.

Former Minister Cho is also on trial for charges including conspiring with Professor Jeong to instruct Kim Kyung-rok to conceal evidence ahead of a prosecution search and seizure. The appellate court in Professor Jeong’s case recognized the conspiracy between former Minister Cho and his wife in this regard. Although the courts differ, this second trial ruling on Professor Jeong is likely to work unfavorably for former Minister Cho. The prosecution’s preparation of the written opinion is based on this background.

Former Minister Cho and Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University

The investigation into the allegations against former Minister Cho’s family, which began with simultaneous raids at more than 20 locations nationwide by the prosecution in August 2019, has resulted in most charges being upheld as guilty. Cho Beom-dong, former Minister Cho’s fifth cousin, had his four-year prison sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court in June, and his younger brother Cho Kwon was sentenced to one year in the first trial and is awaiting the appellate court’s verdict this month. The day before, Professor Jeong was sentenced to four years in prison in the second trial. Despite repeated victories, the prosecution considers the case against former Minister Cho as essentially the main case and is tightening its vigilance. A prosecution official said, “The trial of former Minister Cho is ongoing, so it is a situation that must be properly concluded.”

Former Minister Cho stated on his Facebook the day before that he finds the second trial ruling on Professor Jeong “truly painful as a family member” and that he “will appeal to the Supreme Court and contest it.” In addition to the judicial judgment on his wife Professor Jeong, the upcoming academic disciplinary actions against their daughter Cho Min are also intensifying former Minister Cho’s “pain.” Pusan National University and Korea University held internal meetings the day before and decided to reach a conclusion soon regarding whether to cancel Cho Min’s admission. Cho Min enrolled in Korea University in 2010 and Pusan National University Medical School in 2015. She is currently an intern at a hospital. If Korea University or Pusan National University later cancels her admission, she will lose this status and be considered a high school graduate.

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