Cho Kuk Appears in Court After 5 Months... Maintains Position Denying Evidentiary Validity of Dongyang University PC

Evidentiary Validity of Dongyang University PC Recognized in Jeong Gyeong-sim Supreme Court Ruling
Defense Counsel "Disagree with 'Supreme Court Decision Is Final'"
Cho Kuk Appears in Court, "Will Participate More Sincerely in Trial"

The trial of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim, who were indicted on charges including admission bribery for their children, was held on the 3rd. It was about five months since the trial was suspended due to the prosecution's request to disqualify the presiding judge. Former Minister Cho is heading to the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and his wife, former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim, appeared in court again on the 3rd. The trial on charges of 'admission fraud involving their children' resumed after about five months.

Former Minister Cho attended the trial regarding charges including obstruction of business against himself and former professor Jung, held at 10 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21-1 (Presiding Judges Ma Seong-young, Kim Jeong-gon, Jang Yong-beom). Arriving at the court around 9:48 a.m. wearing a navy suit and a sky-blue tie, he responded to reporters' questions such as "How do you feel about appearing after five months?" and "Do you still deny the evidentiary validity of the Dongyang University PC?" by saying, "I will participate in the trial more sincerely."

Supporters of former Minister Cho expressed strong remarks upon seeing the prosecution team, including Chief Prosecutor Kang Baek-shin of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, arriving at the court. Chief Prosecutor Kang led the Supreme Court's early this year final guilty verdict (4 years imprisonment) against former professor Jung on separate charges including obstruction of business and violation of the Capital Markets Act. Recently, he was dispatched to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office along with two junior prosecutors to maintain the prosecution in the trial involving former Minister Cho and others.

On this day, the court renewed the trial procedures, citing changes in some members of the panel due to the regular court personnel reshuffle in February when the trial had been stalled. When asked about his "occupation," former Minister Cho replied, "University professor."

Additionally, the court inquired about any changes in position regarding the Supreme Court's final ruling on former professor Jung. The defense stated, "There is no change." In particular, they maintained the argument that the evidentiary validity of the Dongyang University PC cannot be recognized as it was obtained illegally.

The defense said, "I do not agree with the statement that 'the Supreme Court has already made a judgment on the evidentiary validity, so that judgment should be final,'" adding, "(By re-examining the evidence) a different judgment can be made. This will also contribute to judicial development." The court set the next trial date for the 17th and decided to proceed with witness examination.

As former Minister Cho's side continues to deny the evidentiary validity of the Dongyang University PC, this issue is expected to remain a key point in future trials. On January 14, the prosecution filed a motion to disqualify the trial panel, arguing that "the court is making a biased conclusion against the defendant by deciding to exclude evidence such as the Dongyang University break room PC and proceeding with the trial based on that." After the motion was rejected twice, the prosecution eventually gave up on further appeals, and the existing trial panel continued to hear the case.

However, after the prosecution's disqualification motion, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling recognizing the evidentiary validity of the Dongyang University PC in a separate trial of former professor Jung and judged that all of their daughter Cho Min's so-called "seven major false credentials" were fabricated.

Earlier, in December 2019, former Minister Cho was indicted along with former professor Jung and Roh Hwan-jung, director of Busan Medical Center, on charges related to their children's admission fraud. The prosecution alleges that former Minister Cho was deeply involved in former professor Jung's private equity fund-related charges and that he falsified the private equity fund operation status report during the confirmation hearing and replaced the hard disk of the home PC to destroy evidence.

In January of the following year, former Minister Cho was additionally indicted along with former Blue House civil affairs secretary Baek Won-woo and former anti-corruption secretary Park Hyung-cheol on charges related to the alleged cover-up of the inspection of former Busan City Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo. This case is also being heard by the same trial panel.

Meanwhile, the administrative lawsuit filed by Cho Min, who appealed the cancellation of her admission to the Busan National University Medical School, is scheduled for its first hearing on the 9th at the Busan District Court Administrative Division 1 (Presiding Judge Geum Deok-hee). She has also filed a nullification lawsuit against the cancellation of her admission to Korea University.

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