Cho Kuk

South Korean politician (born 1965)

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In this Korean name, the family name is  Cho.

Cho Kuk

Official portrait, 2019

Leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party

Incumbent

Assumed office
3 March 2024
Preceded by| Office established
Minister of Justice
In office
9 September 2019 – 14 October 2019
President| Moon Jae-in
Preceded by| Park Sang-ki
Succeeded by| Kim Oh-soo (acting)
Choo Mi-ae
Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs
In office
11 May 2017 – 26 July 2019
President| Moon Jae-in
Preceded by| Cho Dae-hwan
Succeeded by| Kim Joe-won
Personal details
Born|  (1965-04-06) 6 April 1965 (age 59)
West District, Busan, South Korea
Citizenship| South Korean
Political party| Rebuilding Korea Party
Other political
affiliations|

* New Politics Alliance for Democracy (2014–2015)
* Democratic Party of Korea (2015–2023)

Spouse| Chung Kyung-shim
Children| 2, including Cho Min
Alma mater| Seoul National University (LLB, LLM)
University of California, Berkeley (JSD)
Occupation| Jurist, activist, politician
Signature|
Korean name
Hangul|

Hanja|

Revised Romanization| Jo Guk
McCune–Reischauer| Cho Kuk

Cho Kuk (Korean: 조국; Hanja: 曺國; born 6 April 1965[1]) is a South Korean politician. He was the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs from 2017 to 2019 in the Moon Jae-in Cabinet. On 9 September 2019, President Moon Jae-in appointed Cho as Minister of Justice, replacing the incumbent Park Sang-ki.

In 2019, Cho Kuk was involved in a series of controversies, including allegations of corruption surrounding his family's business activities. On 14 October, in the wake of these controversies, Cho Kuk announced his resignation.[2] In 2023, Cho was convicted of falsifying documents for his children's college admissions and sentenced to two years in prison.

On March 3, 2024, Cho founded the Rebuilding Korea Party.[3]

## Early life and education[edit]

Cho was born in West District of Busan[4][5] in 1965,[1] as the eldest son of the ex-Director of Ungdong Middle School[6] Cho Byun-hyun (died in 2013),[6] and his wife and the current Director of the institute, Park Jung-sook.[1][7][8] He attended Gudeok Elementary School in Busan, then moved to Seoul and studied at Daesin Middle School. After he returned to Busan, he finished his secondary education at Hyekwang High School.[5]

Cho earned bachelor's and master's degrees in law from Seoul National University,[5][4][1] and a doctoral degree (J.S.D) from the University of California, Berkeley in the United States.[5][1] He was also a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford[4] and University of Leeds[4] in the United Kingdom.

Cho was previously a lecturer in law at the University of Ulsan[4] from 1992[1] to 1994 and from 1999 to 2000,[9] then at Dongguk University[4] from 2000 to 2001,[9] and later at Seoul National University—where he had earned his bachelor's degree—from 2001 to 2004.[9] While at Seoul National University, he was promoted from lecturer to senior lecturer (2004–2009),[9] then to full professor in 2009.[9][5][10][11]

## Political career[edit]

Cho showed interest in politics at the end of the 1980s, while studying at university.[1] During this time, he was already a member of the South Korean Socialist Workers' Alliance,[1][7] along with Rhyu Si-min and Eun Su-mi. Cho was detained due to his activities, under breach of the National Security Act, and declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.[1] Later, he criticised the National Security Act as a "barbaric law" in his book titled For the Freedom of Conscience and Ideology.[12]

Since the 2000s, Cho has been involved in various activities related to human rights and democracy. He was a member of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy,[4][9] Committee of Determination of Punishment in Supreme Court,[13][4] National Human Rights Commission,[4][9] and the other various organisations.

Cho has never held any elected position,[1] even though the former Democratic Party[14] and its successor Democratic Unionist Party[15] suggested that he run for a position as member of the National Assembly in Bundang 2nd constituency.[1] There were also expectations that Cho would run for Superintendent of Education in Seoul during the local elections in 2014, but he declined.[16][1] He did not run for mayorship of Busan in 2018, despite public expectations.[1]

### Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs, 2017–2019[edit]

Cho Kuk in 2015

On 11 May 2017, the day after Moon Jae-in officially assumed the office of president, Cho was appointed Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs.[17][1] He was one of several non-prosecutors appointed to the position.[17][18] He promised a clear investigation of the 2016 South Korean political scandal.[17] This was welcomed by the People's Party,[19] but also attacked by the Liberty Korea Party.[20][8]

On 31 December 2018, Cho attended the House Steering Committee of the National Assembly.[1] This "surprise" attendance was an issue in South Korean society, as such was not really done by former senior secretaries.[1] A source reported that this negatively affected the approval ratings of President Moon.[21]

Cho was replaced by Kim Joe-won on 26 July 2019.[22]

### Minister of Justice[edit]

On 9 August 2019, Cho was nominated for the position of Minister of Justice[7][23] replacing Park Sang-ki, by President Moon. He quoted General Lee Soon-shin and promised political reform.[23] On 9 September, Cho was officially appointed Minister of Justice.[24] Cho subsequently resigned on 14 October, just 35 days after taking office due to a prosecution probe into various allegations surrounding his family.[25]

## Political orientation[edit]

Cho is often regarded as liberal,[1] even though he was labelled a "leftist" by several right-wing groups.[26][27][18] Regarding the abolition of the death penalty, he said, "I understood the national sentiment, but it should be replaced with life imprisonment."[28] He also mentioned that people should not argue with the criminality of abortion.[29]

For issues related to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), Cho announced that the government is not only for KCTU and impossible to satisfy their demands.[30][31]

## Controversies[edit]

In his political career, Cho Kuk was embroiled in a number of scandals, including plagiarism and tax delinquencies. More significant scandals came from his pending nomination as the Minister of Justice, mainly concerning Cho Kuk's illicit business activities and falsification of academic achievements of his daughter, Cho Min.

Leaders of Seoul National University's General Student Council chant slogans during a rally at the school campus in Seoul on 5 September 2019, to voice their objection to the possible appointment of Cho Kuk, who is facing allegations of ethical lapses.

There are numerous other allegations of corruption under public scrutiny.

### Plagiarism[edit]

Cho was frequently accused of plagiarism.[1][7][32] In July 2013, Song Pyung-in of The Dong-a Ilbo and a conservative commentator Byun Hui-jae had mentioned that Cho plagiarized several theses written by Japanese scholars during his studies at Seoul National University in 1989.[33][34][35] He replied that he underwent some problems with citations, although "unsure because it was long time ago", but then he apologized for it. On 26 June 2015, Seoul National University answered for the issue: some issues were found, which are not too serious.[36]

A few months after the incident, both commentators claimed again that Cho's plagiarism continued at Berkeley in 1997.[37][38] In response, Professor John Yoo said that no rechecking is required.[39] Berkeley also mentioned that there was no proof for the accusations.[40]

### Tax delinquencies[edit]

Cho faced another criticisms regarding tax delinquencies related to the Ungdong Institute.[1][7] It was reported that he and his family did not pay legal costs for 3 years.[1] He accepted that this was true, and made all necessary payments.[1][7]

### Allegations of illicit business activities[edit]

In 2017, it was revealed that Cho Kuk and his family invested a total of approximately 1.4 billion KRW, with a contract to invest an additional approximately seven billion KRW, into a private equity fund, CO-LINK.[41] CO-LINK invested in a Korean company that is contracted in a multi-billion dollar computer network project in South Korea.[42] On 27 August 2019, a search warrant was carried out by the prosecutor's office on suspect sites. On 29 August, the former wife of Cho's younger brother Cho Kwon, Cho Eun-hyang, who is listed as the owner or CEO of many of Cho Kuk's family businesses and properties, was denied boarding on an international flight out of Gimhae International Airport.[43] Despite two full days of news reports, she claimed she was not aware of the flight ban placed on her.[43] Furthermore, three other business associates of Cho Kuk's family, including a Cho Kuk relative, had already left the country before the ban was officially placed on them.

Kim Gyung-yul and his team of accountants and economic analysts of People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy came to a conclusion that this is a crime involving political power.[44]

On 31 October, Cho Kuk's younger brother, Cho Kwon, was arrested on charges of embezzlement and bribery.[45] These charges were later dropped.[46]

### Falsification of academic achievements of Cho Min[edit]

Main article: Cho Min academic credentials scandal

Cho Min, and her parents Cho Kuk and Chung Kyung-sim, have been accused of falsifying her academic achievements to gain admission into prestigious universities and the medical school. Falsified academic achievements include her research in genetics and pathology, one which has since been retracted for violation of ethical guidelines.[47] A senior association of medical experts in South Korea condemned the paper as one of the most serious cases of academic misconduct in South Korean history and compared it to the Hwang Woo-suk scandal.[48]

On 31 December 2019, Cho was indicted on 12 charges over his role in his children's college admissions, including for bribery and corruption, but was not detained. In January 2020, Cho was removed from his teaching position at Seoul National University. In February 2023, Cho was sentenced to two years prison for falsely submitting documents attesting that his son had completed an internship and forging his daughter's academic credentials. In June 2023, Seoul National University expelled him from their faculty of law.[49]

### Arrest of Chung Kyung-sim[edit]

On 10 September 2019, shortly after Cho Kuk's nomination hearing, his wife, Chung Kyung-sim, was officially indicted for forgery of a document by the prosecutor's office. When asked what should happen should his wife face charges, Cho replied that she should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. He did not add that he would withdraw or resign from the nomination.[50]

On 24 October[51] Chung Kyung-sim was charged on 15 counts, including obstruction of business, insider trading, embezzlement, and withholding evidence. On 23 December 2020, she was found guilty on 11 charges, and sentenced to four years in prison and a total of ₩638 million (equivalent to around $500,000 US) in fines and "unlawful gains".[52] The embezzlement charges were dismissed.[53] The sentence was upheld by the supreme court on 27 January 2022.[54]

## Books[edit]

* Sex-biased Criminal Codes (1 March 2001)
* For the Freedom of Conscience and Ideology (30 August 2001)
* Prostitution (1 February 2004)
* Hearsay Rule of Illegally Acquired Evidences (20 March 2005)
* Plea-bargaining – Introduction Planning and Studies (2006)
* Introspecting Liberals (24 March 2008)
* Hymn of Bonobo (How to survive as human in jungle-capitalist Korea?) (11 May 2009)
* We're Telling You, South Korea – Our Homelands (3 January 2011)
* Why am I studying law? (15 June 2014)
* Criminal Law for Self-control (25 December 2014)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "[Who Is ?] 조국 청와대 민정수석". 17 January 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
2. ^ "Justice Minister Cho Kuk resigns over corruption allegations". Yonhap News Agency. 14 October 2019.
3. ^ "New political parties brace for upcoming elections". koreatimes. 3 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "진보집권플랜: 오연호가 묻고 조국이 답하다". 5 November 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
5. ^ a b c d e "[프로필]조국 청와대 민정수석비서관". 11 May 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
6. ^ a b "[부음] 조변현 씨 별세, 조국 조권 씨 부친상". 30 July 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
7. ^ a b c d e f "조국 검증대에… 야당, 54억 재산ㆍ자녀 외고 진학 등 공세 예고". 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
8. ^ a b "웅동학원 비판한 자유한국당, 역풍에 나경원 휘청". 12 May 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
9. ^ a b c d e f g "조국". Retrieved 9 August 2019.
10. ^ "조국 "송민순, 전직 장관이 중요 문건 마음대로 공개하는 이유는.."". 21 April 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
11. ^ "조국 "안철수 'MB 아바타'·'갑철수' 정치적으로 최악의 질문"". 24 April 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
12. ^ ""피고 국가보안법의 폐지를 선고합니다" …청년 역할극". 1 December 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
13. ^ "대법원, 2기 양형위원회 출범". 7 May 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
14. ^ "상품가치 높아지는 조국, 몸 다는 野". 24 March 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
15. ^ "[뉴스A]단독/한명숙, 공천심사위원장에 조국 교수 영입 추진". 17 January 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
16. ^ "조국 교수, 내년 선거 출마 의사·능력 모두 없다면서…". 28 November 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
17. ^ a b c "靑민정수석에 非검찰 출신 조국 내정..인사수석엔 여성 조현옥". 10 May 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
18. ^ a b "[클로즈업] 법무장관 조국, 비(非)검찰 출신의 개혁 사령탑...강남좌파 지적도". 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
19. ^ "정윤회 문건, 박지원 "백번 천번 옳은 말, '정의로운 수사' 필요해"". 13 May 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
20. ^ "자유한국당 "靑민정수석, 정윤회문건 수사 재검토 재고하라". 14 May 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
21. ^ "조국 국회출석 통했나? 문 대통령 국정 지지율 반등". 3 January 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
22. ^ "조국 후임 김조원 "잘못땐 지적해달라"". 26 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
23. ^ a b "조국 또 이순신 언급, "서해맹산의 정신으로 소명 완수"". 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
24. ^ "South The Korean president appointed the justice minister despite scandals". CNA. Agence France-Presse. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
25. ^ 김, 계연 (14 October 2019). "[3보] 조국, 취임 35일만에 사의…"저는 검찰개혁 불쏘시개"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
26. ^ "[김순덕 칼럼]분당우파 vs 강남좌파". 20 March 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
27. ^ "이언주 "조국 나오면 당연히 붙어야...강남 좌파의 시대 끝났다"". 22 April 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
28. ^ "유영철·강호순 등 사형 대기자 61명, 이영학 집행은?". 21 February 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
29. ^ "여성 몸 통제하던 '낙태죄', 66년 만에 위헌 결정". 11 April 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
30. ^ "조국 "민주노총만의 정부 아냐…함께 반보 내딛자"". 24 November 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
31. ^ "[월요칼럼] 기득권의 논리에 포획당한 민주주의 /이택광". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
32. ^ "조국 지명에 野 반발… "조국 파이터 골라 청문회 투입"". 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
33. ^ "[송평인 칼럼]조국 교수의 표절". 19 July 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
34. ^ "[단독] 조국 교수, 석사논문 표절에 병역문제까지". 13 July 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
35. ^ "조국 석사논문, 日 법학책 33군데 출처 안 밝히고 베꼈다". Choson Online. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
36. ^ "서울대 "조국 교수 석사논문 연구부정행위 없다"". 26 June 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
37. ^ "[송평인 칼럼]'표절 의혹' 조국 박사논문 읽어보니". 7 November 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
38. ^ "[단독] 조국 교수, 전문박사논문도 표절논문". 29 September 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
39. ^ ""버클리대 로스쿨 "조국 교수 논문 찬사" vs 의심 변희재 "재심 요청""". 27 September 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
40. ^ "조국 서울대 교수 박사논문 표절 제보 "근거없다" 결론". 13 November 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
41. ^ "75억 약정한 사모펀드, 100% 조국 가족펀드로 드러났다".
42. ^ "조국펀드 투자사, 서울 전철 이어 전국 버스 와이파이 사업 따냈었다". 17 July 2020.
43. ^ a b "조국 동생 전처, 김해공항서 출국하려다 제지당해". 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
44. ^ ""조국펀드 권력형 범죄인 듯… 참여연대, 증거 갖고있다"". 17 July 2020.
45. ^ "Prosecutors extend detention of ex-justice minister's wife". The Korea Herald. 1 November 2019.
46. ^ Minji, Lee (18 September 2020). "Ex-justice minister's brother sentenced to 1 year in jail". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
47. ^ Cho, Min; Hyun, Kwang Sun; Chung, David Chanwook; Choi, In Young; Kim, Myeung Ju; Chang, Young Pyo (2009). "ENOS Gene Polymorphisms in Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy". The Korean Journal of Pathology. 43 (4): 306–311. doi:10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2009.43.4.306.
48. ^ "의학한림원 "조국 딸 제1저자 논문, 황우석 사태와 맞먹는 심각한 부정"". 17 July 2020.
49. ^ Park, Jun-hee (13 June 2023). "Seoul Nat'l Univ. sacks disgraced ex-justice minister". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
50. ^ Korea Times, 11 Sept. 2019, Chosunilbo, 10 Sept. 2019
51. ^ "조국 전 법무부 장관 부인 정경심 교수 구속" [Former Justice Minister's wife Prof. Chung Kyung-shim arrested]. The Hankyoreh. 24 October 2019.
52. ^ "Chung Kyung-sim gets four years in jail". 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020.
53. ^ "[Editorial] Regarding the court's verdict against Chung Kyung-shim". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
54. ^ "[Newsmaker] 4 years prison confirmed for Cho Kuk's wife on academic fraud". The Korea Herald. 27 January 2022.

Political offices

Preceded by

Park Sang-ki

|  Minister of Justice
2019–2020  | Succeeded by

Kim Oh-soo (acting)
Choo Mi-ae

Preceded by

Cho Dae-hwan

|  Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs
2017–2019  | Succeeded by

Kim Joe-won

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
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National|

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