Jung Kyung-shim Appeals 4-Year Prison Sentence in 2nd Trial... Heads to Supreme Court

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk (left) and Professor Jeong Gyeongshim of Dongyang University

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Professor Jeong Gyeongshim of Dongyang University, who was sentenced to four years in prison in both the first and second trials for charges related to her child's admission fraud and private equity funds, has appealed the verdict.

On the 12th, Professor Jeong's side submitted a notice of appeal to the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 1-2 (Chief Judge Eom Sangpil), which handled the appellate trial. The day before, the appellate court sentenced Professor Jeong to four years in prison and a fine of 50 million KRW, along with an order to pay a forfeiture of 10.61 million KRW, in the appellate sentencing hearing on 15 charges including her child's admission fraud and illegal investment in private equity funds.

Previously, Professor Jeong was prosecuted on charges of forging Dongyang University certificates and falsely issuing internship activity confirmations, which were used in her daughter Cho Min's university and medical school admissions, thereby obstructing the admissions process of each school.

She was also charged with obtaining undisclosed information related to the secondary battery company WFM in advance for profit, opening a nominee account to conceal assets, and falsely registering Cho as a research assistant at Dongyang University to receive subsidies.

The appellate court found all charges related to admission fraud guilty, consistent with the first trial. Although there were some differences from the first trial regarding charges related to private equity funds and evidence destruction, most of the charges were also ruled guilty. The first trial had sentenced her to four years in prison, a fine of 500 million KRW, and a forfeiture of about 140 million KRW.

Immediately after the verdict, Kim Chiljun, a lawyer from the Dasan Law Firm representing Professor Jeong, met with reporters in front of the courthouse and said, "It is regrettable and disappointing that the ruling repeated the original judgment, and I think that after reviewing the appellate court's verdict, they will naturally file an appeal."

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