Prosecutors and Defense Clash Over Family Chatroom Conversations in Cho Kuk's Appeal Trial Courtroom

Lee Jun-woo, Former Dean of Busan National University Medical School, Witness Examination
Conflict Over Whether Scholarship Receipt Constitutes Bribery or Violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act

In the appeal trial concerning former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's charges of admission fraud and bribery, the prosecution and defense clashed over completely opposing interpretations of a conversation posted by Cho's daughter, Cho Min, in a family group chat.

The controversial conversation included messages such as Cho Min stating, "The professor said I would receive the scholarship again this time, but not to tell other students," and "The professors also take care of me. There are many special favors at Pusan National University, so it's not disappointing." The prosecution argued this was evidence that former Minister Cho received bribes, while the defense countered that the prosecution was making character-assassinating claims. The two sides also fiercely disputed whether the scholarship awarded to Cho Min could be equated with one received by former Minister Cho himself.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 21st, during the second trial session at the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judges Kim Woo-su, Kim Jin-ha, Lee In-su), Cho's defense attorney protested, saying, "The prosecution is making human rights-destroying claims" regarding the family group chat content submitted as evidence by the prosecution.

According to the first trial judgment, Cho Min sent a message saying, "Professor Roh Hwan-jung told me to quietly receive the scholarship again this time without telling other students!" In response, former Professor Jung replied, "Okay, I guess you are controlling the kids. Just pretend you don't know."

The defense argued that the prosecution was misinterpreting the conversation exchanged in March 2017 between former Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim and Cho Min.

The defense stated, "At that time, there was a sexual issue between a professor and a student at Pusan National University Medical School, and this should be interpreted as a directive to completely ignore that issue," adding, "The prosecution is making character-assassinating claims as if this was about keeping the scholarship secret."

In response, the prosecution countered by revealing messages Cho Min wrote in the family chat in November 2015. The prosecution emphasized, "Cho Min wrote in the chat, 'I am getting used to life in Yangsan, and the professors take care of me. There are many special favors at Pusan National University, so it's not disappointing,'" and stressed, "There should be no discrimination or special treatment based on who one's father is."

The prosecution also disclosed the fact of a 'grade-related request' involving Roh Hwan-jung, director of Busan Medical Center, who was jointly indicted for giving the scholarship and was found guilty of violating the Anti-Graft Act in the first trial.

The prosecution said, "Before the grade meeting at that time, defendant Roh Hwan-jung sent a text message to Professor A asking him to look favorably upon Cho Min, which was testified to the prosecution as containing a request and causing discomfort."

Regarding this, Lee Jun-woo, former dean of Pusan National University Medical School who appeared as a witness that day, testified, "I was not directly informed at the time, but I knew from rumors circulating within the school," and added, "I understood it was not about grades but about whether to fail a student." When the prosecution pointed out, "Requests should not be allowed," Lee replied, "That is correct." Lee was the dean of the medical school and the final approver of the scholarship committee when Cho Min was enrolled and receiving scholarships.

On this day, the prosecution and defense also clashed over the charges of bribery and violation of the Anti-Graft Act against former Minister Cho.

The prosecution argued that while the first trial recognized the violation of the Anti-Graft Act as guilty, it acquitted the bribery charge due to a misjudgment of the scholarship's relation to official duties. The prosecution's view is that Roh Hwan-jung gave a scholarship of 6 million won to Cho Min, daughter of former Minister Cho, who had 'Blue House connections,' to become director of Busan Medical Center, and subsequently achieved his desired outcome.

On the other hand, the defense argued, "The Anti-Graft Act restricts only the public official's own receipt of money or valuables, and does not apply to children who are not spouses regardless of the relation to official duties," and insisted that the first trial's guilty verdict on the Anti-Graft Act violation should also be overturned.

During the trial, witness examination of former Dean Lee was conducted.

First, the defense questioned Lee about inconsistencies in his statements, pointing out that in a media interview before former Minister Cho's confirmation hearing, Lee said he was informed about the fairness issue of Cho Min's scholarship in 2018, but testified to the prosecution that he was informed in 2017, challenging the credibility of his testimony.

The defense asked, "Cho Min was not even mentioned at the 2017 Pusan National University Medical School Scholarship Committee meeting." However, Lee could not precisely recall when he was informed about the fairness issue but consistently testified that he did meet with Director Roh, who was Cho Min's advisor, after being informed. He also said he was never subjected to leading questions during the prosecution investigation.

Subsequently, the prosecution questioned Lee about the problem of Cho Min receiving scholarships for several semesters despite once being at risk of failing and not having financial difficulties.

Lee said, "As an advisor, I think it is possible to give scholarships to students who are about to give up on their studies as encouragement," but added, "I have never heard of a case similar to Cho Min's." The prosecution argued that Pusan National University exceptionally did not apply minimum grade requirements only to medical school students who had to bear expensive tuition, but even considering this, there were no cases of students who failed receiving scholarships.

Lee also testified about the situation when he was informed of the fairness issue, saying, "I thought there might be a problem," and said he later issued a recommendation urging more caution in awarding scholarships as it could be a burden for the school.

Former Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim of Dongyang University did not attend the trial that day, submitting a notice of absence due to health reasons.

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