Cho Kuk Gifts Book "The Cell Will Make You Fit" to Jeong Gyeong-sim in Prison

Jung Bong-ju "Cho Kuk Put the Prison Must-Read Containing Bodybuilding Secrets for Jeong Gyeong-sim"

The cover of former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju's book 'The Small Room Will Make You Fit' (left). Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. / MSD Media, Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk gifted the book "The Small Room Will Make You Fit" written by former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju to his wife, former Dongyang University professor Jeong Gyeong-sim, who is currently imprisoned on charges including admission fraud involving their children, Jeong revealed.

On the 29th, former lawmaker Jeong mentioned his book published in 2013 after his release from prison on his YouTube channel 'Jeong Bong-ju TV.' Jeong was sentenced to one year in prison in 2011 for violating the Public Official Election Act and was released in December 2012 after serving his full term. At that time, Jeong attracted attention by revealing his well-built muscular physique. The book contains the secret to building a muscular body during his one-year incarceration without using gym equipment.

During the broadcast, Jeong, appearing as a panelist alongside Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Min-seok and others, spoke about his trial and shared stories from his time in prison. Jeong said, "90% of people don't know that I went to prison," adding, "When you come out of prison, you’re supposed to look sad and pitiful, but I don’t."

Former Democratic Party election committee spokesperson Nam Young-hee, who also appeared on the show, said, "Didn't you even make six-pack abs?" When Ahn mentioned, "Isn't there a book you wrote in prison?" Jeong replied, "That book is still selling, and I receive royalties once a year because it’s a prison must-read." He added, "Former Minister Cho gave that book to Professor Jeong. Cho told me that himself."

Jeong continued, "Four weeks before going to prison, I called a PT trainer and trained to exercise in a small room, taking notes," explaining, "You can’t endure the one-pyeong (approx. 3.3 square meters) of pain in prison, so I trained in solitary confinement and even slept on the veranda in winter."

Meanwhile, former professor Jeong Gyeong-sim is serving a four-year prison sentence for charges including admission fraud involving her children and private equity fund-related offenses. The Supreme Court’s 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cheon Dae-yeop) upheld the original sentence in January, 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 instructing evidence destruction and concealment, sentencing her to four years in prison.

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