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| Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk answers reporters' questions in front of the Seoul Central District Court, Friday, after being sentenced to two years in prison for academic fraud and other charges. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho |
By Jun Ji-hye
Seoul National University has decided to begin procedures to take disciplinary action against Cho Kuk, a former justice minister and close aide of former President Moon Jae-in, after he was convicted of academic fraud and other charges at a district court last week, university officials said Wednesday.
Cho used to teach law at the university until he was appointed as senior presidential secretary for civil affairs upon the inauguration of the Moon administration.
"We will resume relevant procedures following the court ruling," a university official said. "After reviewing the ruling, a disciplinary committee will hold its meeting."
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced the former minister to two years in prison last Friday on multiple charges, including using his influence to help his children receive academic favors to gain entry into universities and graduate schools, including a medical school.
Other charges included abusing his power to interfere with an inspection into bribery allegations involving a former Busan vice mayor, another aide of Moon, and receiving bribes worth 6 million won ($4,800) in the form of a scholarship for his daughter.
The court, however, did not incarcerate him immediately, citing a low flight risk.
The disciplinary policies of the university stipulate that its president can ask the disciplinary committee to determine punishment when a staff member violates the law or engages in activities that tarnish its dignity.
Although controversies surrounding Cho flared up following his 2019 indictment, Oh Se-jung, the university's president at the time, postponed disciplinary procedures, stating the prosecution's investigation would be insufficient to fully prove the charges against Cho.
Last July, Oh belatedly asked the committee to decide on a punishment for Cho, but the committee also deferred its decision, citing that the court had yet to hand down its judgment.
Following the recent court ruling, the university has been placed in a situation where it can no longer postpone the procedures.
In response, Cho claimed that disciplinary procedures should continue to be put off until a final ruling is issued in the Supreme Court.
The former minister has already appealed to a higher court against the decision made by the district court.
"As Cho lodged an appeal, the university should respect the presumption of innocence and halt the disciplinary procedures," Cho's lawyer said in a statement delivered to the university.
Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, spokesman of the ruling People Power Party, criticized this. "I hope Cho talks about the presumption of innocence in court, not at the university, and takes responsibility for his wrongdoings," he said.
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