Prosecutors demand suspended prison term for ex-justice minister's daughter over admission fraud

▲ Cho Min, the daughter of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, appears at the Seoul Central District Court to attend a hearing over alleged university admissions fraud on Jan. 26, 2024. (Yonhap)

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Prosecutors demand suspended prison term for ex-justice minister's daughter over admission fraud

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Friday demanded a suspended sentence for the daughter of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk on charges of university admission fraud.

In the final hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors demanded one year in prison, suspended for three years, for Cho Min, who was indicted on charges including document forgery and obstruction of business.

Cho, 32, is accused of collaborating with her mother to submit falsified documents, including an admission form, a cover letter and a commendation letter, to Pusan National University (PNU)'s Graduate School of Medicine in June 2014.

She is also alleged to have conspired with her parents to submit fabricated documents to Seoul National University (SNU) College of Medicine in June 2013.

"This case caused a sense of despondency and disappointment in many people who work one's way diligently, and whisked away their faith in the school admissions system," the prosecution said, referring to the crime as one that "tears down social discipline by fostering egoism."

But the fact that Cho's parents both received prison terms and her doctor's license was revoked was also considered in the decision, prosecutors said.

In the final testimony, Cho apologized to those who were distressed by the incident, or people who felt disappointment and frustration at the opportunities she enjoyed.

"At first I thought it was unfair," Cho began, "I thought it was solely the result of my hard work that I achieved the dream of becoming a doctor."

But Cho said she realized she "had it easy compared to other students" and decided to give up on her diploma and doctor's license.

"I hope my family affairs do not create any more rifts in society," she said. "With this case in mind, I'm hoping our country can advance toward a more equal society."

A district court had earlier sentenced the former justice minister to two years in prison on multiple charges, including his role in admission irregularities concerning his children, and given a one-year prison sentence to his wife, Chung Kyung-sim.

Chung was released on parole in September while serving a four-year prison term on charges related to her daughter.

The court verdict for Cho is slated for March 22.

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