With Jeong Gyeong-sim's 4-year sentence confirmed... Cho Guk says, "I thought we would have dinner together, but it's painful"

Supreme Court Confirms Jeong Gyeongshim's 4-Year Prison Sentence
Cho Kuk: "We Will Endure Our Family's Ordeal"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk expressed his feelings of "truly painful" regarding the confirmation of a 4-year prison sentence for his spouse, former Dongyang University professor Jeong Gyeongshim.

On the 27th, Cho posted on his Facebook, saying, "I thought my family would gather and eat a warm meal together tonight, but it turned out to be a vain hope."

He added, "I thank the citizens who have sent comfort and encouragement in various ways. Now, I would appreciate it if you could focus on the presidential election that will determine the fate of the country," and said, "I am very worried that advanced South Korea might become recklessly backward due to the election results."

He continued, "My family will bear the trials. I am sorry and grateful."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's spouse, former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cheon Dae-yeop) upheld the original sentence of 4 years imprisonment and a fine of 50 million KRW for former professor Jeong, recognizing her guilt on charges including obstruction of business, violations of the Capital Markets Act and the Real Name Financial Transactions Act, fraud, violation of the Subsidy Management Act, and instigation of evidence destruction and concealment. The original court-ordered fine of 10.61 million KRW was also confirmed. This final ruling came about 2 years and 5 months after the prosecution began investigating the 'Cho Kuk incident' in August 2019.

The court also judged that the so-called '7 major specs' used for the university admissions of former professor Jeong and former Minister Cho's children were all false. Furthermore, the court recognized the evidentiary validity of the PC obtained from the Dongyang University lecturer's lounge, which was a key issue in this ruling.

Former professor Jeong's side had argued that the prosecution seized the PC illegally and that it lacked evidentiary value, but this was not accepted. Unless parole or pardon is granted, former professor Jeong will be released in early June 2024.

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