"False Explanation Disappointment" 1,617 People Lose Compensation Lawsuit Against Cho Kuk

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk is attending the parliamentary confirmation hearing as a ministerial nominee on September 6, 2019, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Professor Seo Min from Dankook University College of Medicine and over 1,600 citizens filed a lawsuit claiming 1.6 billion KRW in damages, stating they suffered mental harm due to former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's illegal actions, but the court did not accept the case.

On the morning of the 21st at 10 a.m., the Civil Division 19 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jeongmin) announced in the first trial of the damages claim lawsuit filed by Professor Seo and 1,617 others against former Minister Cho, "All claims by the plaintiffs are dismissed," and "The plaintiffs shall bear the litigation costs."

Earlier, in May last year, Professor Seo and others claimed that "after Cho was nominated as Minister of Justice in 2019, he explained various allegations such as his children's admission corruption and private equity funds with lies, causing mental distress," and demanded 1 million KRW per person, totaling approximately 1.61 billion KRW in compensation from former Minister Cho.

One plaintiff stated, "As a parent who sent their child to retake the college entrance exam to enter medical school, seeing Cho Kuk's daughter easily enter a medical graduate school from the liberal arts track using 'Daddy's chance' and receive a scholarship with a GPA in the 1-point range made me feel sorry and empty toward my child. I even take medication for neurosis and depression."

For this class action lawsuit, lawyer Kim Soyeon (41, 5th bar exam) recruited participants via social networking services (SNS) in September 2020. This is similar in purpose to the class action lawsuit filed by lawyer Kwak Sangeon (52, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 33), the late President Roh Moo-hyun's son-in-law, who gathered citizens to sue former President Park Geun-hye. The damages claim lawsuit filed against former President Park was also dismissed by the court.

Meanwhile, former Minister Cho has been undergoing a criminal trial at the Seoul Central District Court on charges including his children's admission corruption, private equity funds, and covering up misconduct reports related to former Busan City Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo. The Criminal Division 21-1 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Ma Seongyoung, Kim Jeonggon, Jang Yongbeom) plans to hold the first trial verdict hearing on this case at 2 p.m. on February 3 next year. The prosecution has requested the court to sentence former Minister Cho to five years in prison and a fine of 12 million KRW.

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