Justice Minister's Dismissal of Academic Fraud Charges to be Reversed by South Korean Government
South Korea's Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk Pardoned and Released After Eight Months
South Korea's former justice minister, Cho Kuk, has been granted a presidential pardon and will be released from prison this week. The pardon, announced by Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho at a press briefing on the Liberation Day pardons, comes after Cho served eight months of a sentence for academic fraud.
Cho Kuk was at the forefront of efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration. Before his conviction, he was a high-profile legal academic and aide to ex-president Moon Jae-in. However, in 2019, an academic admissions scandal engulfed his family, and he was forced to leave his position as an MP after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction.
Cho was accused of forging documents to give his son and daughter advantages in their college and graduate school admissions. The Supreme Court upheld Cho Kuk's conviction in December 2024, forcing him to relinquish his seat and present himself to prison. Cho's wife, Chung Kyung-sim, was also convicted and given a sentence of four years.
Cho was one of 27 key public officials and politicians to be pardoned, taking into account their contributions to the state and the severity of their crimes. The pardon also includes Cho's reinstatement, and Cho expressed gratitude for the constitutional decision, acknowledging criticisms voiced by others.
Cho Kuk's crimes were considered grave, as he exploited his position to obstruct admissions processes over many years. He was accused of taking an online exam for his son at a US university, in addition to the document forgery.
Despite his conviction, Cho's political party, Rebuilding Korea, gained 12 seats, including his own, in last year's elections. Cho was appointed to lead the justice ministry in 2019.
The pardon of Cho Kuk is part of a broader political and institutional gesture by the current administration, reflecting conflicts involving prosecutorial power in South Korea. Cho expressed the pardon as a symbolic moment marking the end of what he called "prosecutorial dictatorship" under the previous administration.
[1] Lee, J. (2025). South Korea's Cho Kuk to be Pardoned and Reinstated after Serving Eight Months for Academic Fraud. The Korea Herald. [2] Kim, S. (2025). Cho Kuk's Early Release Sparks Controversy in South Korea. The New York Times.
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