Former Chuncheon Mayor Given Suspended Sentence for Obtaining Degree by Having Employee Attend Classes on His Behalf

10 Months Imprisonment, 2 Years Probation... Employee Also Punished
Court Considers "No Candidacy Using Degree"

A former mayor who obtained a degree by delegating attendance, course participation, and exams of university lectures conducted through remote classes while in office was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

According to a Yonhap News report on the 7th, Judge Lee Eun-sang of the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 3 sentenced Choi Dong-yong (73), former mayor of Chuncheon, who was indicted for obstruction of business, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and ordered 40 hours of community service. The court also sentenced A, the former secretary-general of the Chuncheon mayor’s office who was indicted alongside Choi for the same crime, to 6 months in prison with a 1-year suspension.

Former Chuncheon Mayor Choi Dong-yong [Photo by Yonhap News]

Choi, who took office as mayor of Chuncheon in July 2014, enrolled in a cyber university in Seoul in March 2015. By mid-December 2016, he had completed 72 credits over four semesters by taking six 3-credit courses each semester. However, the person who actually attended the lectures was not Choi but A. Choi graduated with a bachelor's degree in February 2017, but the fact that credits were earned through proxy attendance was revealed, and he was prosecuted for obstruction of academic affairs.

The judge pointed out, "The defendants’ crimes undermined trust in fair academic management," and added, "Choi, given his position and duties at the time, was in a position to set an example, yet committed the crime, which is highly condemnable." Regarding the sentencing, the judge explained, "However, considering that the defendants fully admitted to the crime and showed remorse, that the fraudulently obtained bachelor's degree was not used to run for public office, and that the employee voluntarily reported the crime to the investigative authorities."

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