Jeong Gyeong-shim Mentioned "Busan Man"... Cho Min: "A Dad-like Person, Not Really Boyfriend Material"

Former Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim's Court Statement
Daughter Jo Min Also Mentioned "Taciturn Dad" in Essay

"As a man from Busan, he is not the type to talk much."

Former Dongyang University professor Jeong Gyeong-shim referred to her husband, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, in court as a "taciturn Busan man," while their daughter Cho Min's past writing in a book stating "I don't want a boyfriend like my dad" is drawing renewed attention.

Cho Min, daughter of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, is heading to the courtroom to attend a trial on December 8 at the Seoul Central District Court regarding charges of obstruction of official duties by intimidation and obstruction of business (admission corruption). Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

Earlier, on the 18th, during the appeal trial for their son's college admission fraud case held by the 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (presided by Judge Kim Woo-su), former professor Jeong appeared in court in a wheelchair.

During the defendant's questioning that day, Professor Jeong repeatedly said, "It was me, not Cho Kuk," and mentioned Cho's personality several times. She added, "(Cho Kuk) is one of the least interested fathers in children's education among Korean men," and claimed, "He is a principled person, and I almost have to threaten him for him to help, and even then, he only helps to a limited extent."

This statement is interpreted as an attempt to emphasize that Cho Kuk, who showed little interest in his children's college admissions, was not involved in admission fraud such as falsifying internship documents.

Professor Jeong also reiterated regarding their son's planned internship certificate at Seoul National University's Public Interest and Human Rights Law Center, "I thought that if I seated my son in a corner of his father's lab, it would reduce distractions, and there was also an internship output," and "I requested the certificate directly from the supervising professor and received it myself; my husband was not involved."

Previously, the first trial court judged that this certificate was falsely issued. Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges of admission fraud and found mostly guilty in the first trial, reportedly bowed his head at Professor Jeong's statement.

Cho Min: "Dad is a typical Busan man"

The book by Jomin published last September.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Earlier, in September, their daughter Cho Min published her essay titled "I am Moving Forward Today as Well," in which she described her father's personality as a typical Busan man.

In the essay, Cho Min wrote, "My father is a truly good person and a good dad. This is not just because I am his daughter, but objectively so," and added, "However, I do not want to date someone like my father."

She explained, "Maybe because Dad is from Busan, he has a taciturn personality and does not enjoy small talk," and added, "He rarely participates in family text conversations, and when he does, he replies with short answers."

Meanwhile, at the appeal trial's final hearing on the 18th, the prosecution requested a five-year prison sentence for Cho Kuk. They also asked for a fine of 12 million won and a supplementary fine of 6 million won. For former professor Jeong, who was indicted together, they requested a two-year prison sentence.

In response, Professor Jeong pleaded for leniency, saying, "Our family has lost everything and given up everything," and "I learned late that my son was a victim of school violence, and due to studying abroad and other reasons, I could not properly take care of him. This fact remains a painful thorn in my heart."

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