‘Special Hiring of Dismissed Teachers’ Jo Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Education... First Court Appearance on the 15th of Next Month

Cho Superintendent's Side "Considering June Superintendent Election Schedule, Please Avoid All-Day Trials"

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Cho Hee-yeon, the Superintendent of Education of Seoul, who was indicted on charges of 'unfair special hiring of dismissed teachers,' will appear in court in person next month.

The Criminal Division 25-2 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jeong-je) decided on the 11th, during the second pretrial hearing for Cho and former secretary Han Mo, who were indicted on charges including abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights, to hold the first formal trial on the 15th of next month.

With the formal trial scheduled, Superintendent Cho must appear in court in person. Until now, since the trial proceeded as a pretrial hearing without the obligation for the defendant to appear, Superintendent Cho had not appeared in court.

At the hearing, Han’s defense attorney stated, "There are doubts about the evidentiary value of the investigation conducted by the dispatched public official," adding, "While the investigator and the Public Corruption Investigation Office (PCIO) prosecutor are specified, the dispatched public official does not have status or authority."

In response, the court stated that since Superintendent Cho’s case is the 'PCIO’s first case' with no precedent, it will make a judgment on this matter along with the verdict after deliberation.

Superintendent Cho’s side requested the court to consider the schedule of the Superintendent of Education election to be held on June 1. The attorney said, "Although the candidacy has not been officially confirmed yet, there is a possibility of running, so please avoid holding all-day trials in court during the campaign period."

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