"Admissions Fraud" Cho Kuk's Side: "Students Are Similar... No Microscope on Specific Individuals"

The defense team of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is on trial for allegations of 'admission fraud involving his children,' denied the charges again in the appellate trial, stating that "a conspiracy relationship is not established." They also reiterated the claim that, in reality, most students' specification confirmation letters contained subjective activity details, and that only Cho's children were being held to a harsh standard.

On the afternoon of the 17th, the Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Kim Woo-su, Kim Jin-ha, and Lee In-su) held the first appellate trial session for former Minister Cho Kuk.

On this day, Cho's defense attorney denied the charges related to the children's admission fraud, as they did in the first trial. The attorney stated the reason for the appeal: "The main issue we are disputing is whether a conspiracy relationship was established," adding, "Looking at the various career details submitted by daughter Cho Min, it is unclear whether former Minister Cho could have judged their authenticity."

He continued, "Among the career records of Ms. Cho that are problematic in the Seoul National University Medical School-related charges, four were accumulated during high school and three during university. At that time, former Minister Cho was engaged in his livelihood and active work, so it was difficult for him to know every move of when and where his daughter participated in experiential activities," and requested, "Please reconsider whether he could have had the awareness that the experiential learning internships and other activities performed by his child were false to the extent of being an accomplice."

The defense argued, "The admission system has always changed, and new competitions inevitably arise," "Each high school or academy seemed to create activities and programs that used the personal backgrounds of parents or acquaintances to build specifications and provide opportunities," and "Therefore, the recorded details are inevitably subjective and lenient rather than objective and neutral. Not only Ms. Cho but most students at the time received similar specification confirmation letters."

Furthermore, "It was the reality that almost all applicants submitted similar career materials. Those involved in admissions screening were well aware of this reality," emphasizing, "It requires deep consideration whether it is appropriate to apply obstruction of business charges when verifying with a microscope-like standard for specific individuals and finding even slight falsehoods or exaggerations."

Previously, the legal community was focused on what stance former Minister Cho would take in court regarding the children's admission fraud charges. This was because the prosecution announced its plan to decide on the judicial processing of the children after confirming Cho's position and other factors during the appellate trial process.

On this day, Cho Kuk appeared in court and told reporters, "After much consideration, my children have given up all degrees and qualifications connected to the problematic documents," adding, "It is painful, but I respect their determination to start anew from scratch."

He stated, "After the Supreme Court confirmed the guilt of my wife, former Dongyang University professor Jeong Gyeong-sim, the parties and family have humbly accepted it and are reflecting on themselves." He also expressed support for the decisions of daughter Cho Min and son Cho Won, who gave up degrees and qualifications related to the admission fraud charges. Additionally, he added, "I will provide a sincere explanation with a more humble attitude in this appellate trial."

The prosecution indicted former Minister Cho at the end of 2019 to early 2020 on a total of 12 charges, including obstruction of business, forgery and use of false official documents, and forgery of private documents related to the children's admission fraud, as well as bribery related to his daughter's scholarship fraud. In the first trial held last February, Cho was sentenced to two years in prison. Most of the admission fraud charges were upheld. Former professor Jeong, who was sentenced to four years in prison by the Supreme Court last year for charges related to Cho Min, was additionally indicted for charges related to Cho Won and received a one-year prison sentence in the first trial along with former Minister Cho in this case.

Both the Supreme Court's final ruling on former professor Jeong and the first trial court for former Minister Cho recognized the 'conspiracy relationship' of Cho Min, making it difficult for the prosecution to dismiss charges against Cho Min as 'no charges' regardless of whether former Minister Cho admits guilt. The statute of limitations (7 years) for the charge of obstruction of official duties by deception and use of forged private documents related to Cho Min's fraudulent application to Pusan National University Medical School expires on the 26th of next month.

Meanwhile, Cho Min, who filed an administrative lawsuit against the cancellation of her admission, recently withdrew all lawsuits, stating before the first appellate hearing against Pusan National University Medical School, where she lost in the first trial, and the first trial against Korea University, "I will seriously consider my future, where I can contribute to society as a citizen of the Republic of Korea with a sense of social responsibility."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of 'children's admission corruption and allegations of inspection cover-up,' is attending the first hearing of the second trial held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu on the 17th and is giving an interview to the press. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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