'Large-scale works such as university entrance exam papers' Academy Director Sentenced to Prison in Second Trial... Sentence Reduced by 2 Months

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The head of an entrance exam academy who orchestrated ghostwriting and fabrication of various competition submissions used for university admissions screening was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court. However, the sentence was reduced by two months compared to the first trial.

On the 7th, the 4-2 Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jeon Yeonsuk) sentenced Mr. A (44, male), the head of a university entrance consulting company in Gangnam, Seoul, who was detained and prosecuted on charges including obstruction of business, to 1 year and 2 months in prison, which is two months less than the first trial. Instructor B (36, female), who was also prosecuted and received a 1-year prison sentence with a 3-year probation in the first trial, had her sentence slightly reduced to 1 year in prison with a 2-year probation.

The court pointed out, "The defendants caused instructors to ghostwrite and fabricate papers and assignments submitted by students for academic competitions and other achievements, or condoned such acts, thereby depriving other students of opportunities to participate in competitions, and causing the students and their parents to feel deprived and distrustful of the fairness of the admissions process, which requires strict punishment." However, it also stated, "the defendants have shown remorse and reflection, Mr. A has no prior record of punishment beyond fines, and Ms. B is a first-time offender," explaining the reasons for sentencing. The reduction in sentence compared to the first trial was due to the prosecution partially revising the charges regarding the number of offenses in the second trial.

Previously, Mr. A and others were brought to trial on charges of having their affiliated instructors ghostwrite and fabricate papers and assignments for various competitions for high school students about 50 times from September 2017 to July 2019 while operating a university entrance consulting academy in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is known that students submitted these papers, written by instructors on their behalf, to competition organizers as if they were their own creations, and some even won awards in actual competitions. Most of the students were found to be children from wealthy families.

Meanwhile, in June, the prosecution separately brought about 40 students and parents to trial on charges of conspiring in the ghostwriting and fabrication process.

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