Former Justice Minister Cho Kook, who was handed over to trial on charges of corruption in the entrance examination of his children and ignoring the Blue House inspection, was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial.
Criminal Agreement 21-1 of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former Minister Cho, who was handed over to trial on charges of obstruction of business, violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, abuse of authority, and obstruction of the exercise of rights, to a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 6 million won.
It has been more than three years since he was handed over to trial on December 31, 2019.
However, the judge did not arrest former Minister Cho in court, saying, "It is difficult to see that there is a concern about the destruction of evidence as the investigation into the accused has been completed, and it is difficult to see that there is a concern about escaping in light of social ties."
The court found former Minister Cho guilty of most of the charges of corruption in the entrance examination of his son and daughter.
The fact that he received 6 million won from the director of Busan Medical Center Noh Hwan-joong in the name of his daughter's scholarship was not a bribe, but it was considered to be a violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
The court also found former Minister Cho guilty of ignoring the supervision of the Blue House special inspection team on Yoo Jae-soo, former vice mayor of Busan City, when he was chief civil servant at the Blue House.
Spouse Jeong Kyung-sim, former professor at Dongyang University, who was accused of being an accomplice in the entrance examination of their children, was sentenced to an additional year in prison that day.
Professor Jeong is also charged with corruption in her daughter's entrance examination and private equity fund-related charges, and has been sentenced to four years in prison.