'Wongdong Academy Corruption Allegations' Jo Guk's Brother Faces Supreme Court Judgment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Jo Kwon, the younger brother of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was sentenced to three years in prison in the appellate court for allegations of corruption at Woongdong Academy, will face a ruling from the Supreme Court.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, Jo submitted a notice of appeal to the appellate court, the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Yeonwook Park), on the last day of the appeal period in the afternoon. Previously, the prosecution, which had sought a six-year prison sentence, also appealed on the 31st of last month.

Jo was prosecuted on charges including causing damages worth billions of won to the school foundation by securing false construction payment claims and conducting so-called 'self-litigation' against Woongdong Academy, as well as receiving bribes during the teacher recruitment process at Woongdong Middle School. The first trial recognized only the obstruction of business related to teacher recruitment corruption as guilty and sentenced him to one year in prison.

The appellate court ruled differently from the original trial. It additionally found him guilty of violating the Labor Standards Act, aiding a recruitment broker's escape, and attempted breach of trust related to false litigation, sentencing him to three years in prison. Jo, who had been released on bail during the appellate trial, was taken into custody again in court.

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