Court Sentences Cho Min to 10 Million Won Fine for 'Admission Fraud' Charges... "Causing Public Distrust in Admission System"

Jo Min, the daughter of Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, who was prosecuted on charges of 'admission fraud,' was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won in the first trial.

On the 22nd, Judge Lee Kyung-sun of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 16 sentenced Jo, who was indicted on charges including forgery and use of false documents, obstruction of business, and obstruction of public officials by deception, to a fine of 10 million won.

The first trial sentencing hearing for Cho Min, daughter of Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, who was indicted on charges of admission fraud, was held on the 22nd at the Seoul Central District Court. Cho Min, who arrived at the court to attend the hearing, is heading to the courtroom. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

The judge stated, "The admission fraud related to this case undermined the fairness of the admissions process and caused public distrust in the entire admissions system," adding, "It is highly condemnable as it caused frustration and despair to the majority who have worked diligently for a long time for fair competition." However, the judge added, "Consideration was given in sentencing to the fact that Jo admitted all the crimes and withdrew lawsuits filed against Korea University and Pusan National University Medical School."

Jo is accused of conspiring with her mother, former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim, to submit falsified admission documents, including a false application form, self-introduction letter, and a forged Dongyang University president’s commendation, to the admissions office of Pusan National University Medical School in June 2014, thereby obstructing the evaluation committee’s admissions review work.

She is also charged with conspiring with her parents to submit falsified supporting documents, including a false self-introduction letter, an internship confirmation letter in the name of the head of the Public Interest and Human Rights Law Center at Seoul National University Law School, and a forged Dongyang University president’s commendation, during the early admission process of Seoul National University Medical School in June 2013.

On this day, the court rejected Jo’s claim that the prosecution’s indictment was an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.

The court stated, "Considering the content of the case and the progress of the investigation and trial, there is a part that can accept the prosecutor’s claim that it was necessary to file charges against Professor Jung Kyung-shim, whose guilt is certain, and to review the defendant’s involvement, intent, and degree of participation through future proceedings before deciding whether to indict the defendant."

Furthermore, the court noted, "Whether the documents submitted to the medical school were forged or false is a premise for determining guilt or innocence regarding the charges in this case. In the cases related to Jung Kyung-shim and Jo Guk, the forgery and falsity of these documents and the evidentiary validity of electronic information were fiercely contested for a long time," adding, "Even if the defendant had been indicted together with Jung Kyung-shim and others, the judgment of these preliminary facts would have been necessary first."

The court continued, "Considering these circumstances comprehensively, even if the prosecutor filed charges against the defendant after the Jung Kyung-shim and Jo Guk cases proceeded, this alone does not constitute a violation of the defendant’s right to a speedy trial or an abuse of prosecutorial discretion," concluding, "Therefore, the court does not accept the defendant’s lawyer’s claims regarding this matter."

Earlier, in the first trial held last December, Jo admitted all the charges against her but argued prosecutorial abuse of discretion and requested the court to dismiss the indictment, effectively asking for the indictment to be nullified without a trial on guilt or innocence.

In the sentencing hearing held in January, the prosecution requested a sentence of one year imprisonment with three years probation for Jo, stating, "This case caused frustration and disappointment to many who work diligently for fair competition and betrayed the trust and expectations of examinees and parents in the admissions system, making it highly condemnable."

Meanwhile, Jo Guk, who was indicted on charges of involvement in Jo Min’s admission fraud, was sentenced to two years imprisonment in the second trial last month. Jo Guk has appealed, and the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the case.

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