Cho Kuk

Cho Kuk received his LL.M degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 1995.

Cho Kuk received his J.S.D. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 1997.

Cho Kuk was accused of plagiarism by several commentators, including Song Pyung-in and Byun Hui-jae, for plagiarizing theses written by Japanese scholars during his studies at Seoul National University in 1989. He later apologized for the issue.

Seoul National University responded to the plagiarism accusations against Cho Kuk, stating that some issues were found but not too serious. The accusations continued regarding his studies at Berkeley in 1997, to which Professor John Yoo and Berkeley mentioned that no rechecking was required and there was no proof for the accusations.

On 11 May 2017, Cho was appointed as Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs, promising a clear investigation of the 2016 South Korean political scandal, which was met with both support and criticism.

Cho Kuk served as the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs in the Moon Jae-in Cabinet from 2017 to 2019. This role involved overseeing civil affairs and policies within the presidential administration.

On 31 December 2018, Cho's surprise attendance at the House Steering Committee of the National Assembly caused a stir in South Korean society and negatively affected the approval ratings of President Moon.

On 9 August 2019, Cho was nominated for the position of Minister of Justice, quoting General Lee Soon-shin and promising political reform.

On 27 August 2019, a search warrant was carried out by the prosecutor's office on suspect sites related to Cho Kuk and his family's businesses and properties.

On 29 August 2019, Cho Kuk's former sister-in-law, Cho Eun-hyang, was denied boarding on an international flight out of Gimhae International Airport. This occurred after news reports and claims of unawareness of the flight ban placed on her.

President Moon Jae-in appointed Cho Kuk as the Minister of Justice on 9 September 2019, replacing the incumbent Park Sang-ki. This appointment marked a significant transition in Cho Kuk's political career.

Shortly after Cho Kuk's nomination hearing, Chung Kyung-sim, Cho Kuk's wife, was officially indicted for forgery of a document by the prosecutor's office. Cho Kuk stated that she should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Cho resigned on 14 October 2019, just 35 days after taking office as Minister of Justice, due to a prosecution probe into various allegations surrounding his family.

After months of controversy and weeks of protests, South Korean Justice Minister Cho Kuk stepped down from his position. His main agenda was to overhaul the national prosecutor’s office, which had been unpopular among the Korean public for years.

Chung Kyung-sim was charged on 15 counts, including obstruction of business, insider trading, embezzlement, and withholding evidence.

On 31 October 2019, Cho Kuk's younger brother, Cho Kwon, was arrested on charges of embezzlement and bribery, which were later dropped.

On 31 December 2019, Cho Kuk was indicted on 12 charges over his role in his children's college admissions, including for bribery and corruption, but was not detained.

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk arrived at the Seoul High Court to attend his sentencing trial, where a two-year prison sentence for academic fraud and unlawful interference with a government inspection was upheld. The court also confirmed the guilty verdict and approved the forfeiture of 6 million won.

Chung Kyung-sim was found guilty on 11 charges, and sentenced to four years in prison and a total of ₩638 million in fines and 'unlawful gains'. The embezzlement charges were dismissed. The sentence was upheld by the supreme court on 27 January 2022.

Cho Kuk's son, who was accepted to Yonsei University Graduate School, announced last year that he would voluntarily forfeit his diploma. This decision was made in relation to the controversies surrounding Cho Kuk.

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk was sentenced to two years in prison by the Seoul High Court Criminal Department 13 on charges of corruption in his children's entrance examination and receiving illegal scholarships for his daughter. This came after he was initially sentenced to prison in the first trial and the results of the second trial were consistent with the first trial's judgment.

Former South Korean politician Cho Kuk was sentenced to two years in prison for forging documents. This marked a significant legal consequence for Cho Kuk's actions.

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk held a press conference at Democracy Park in Busan to announce the launch of a new political party. He emphasized the party's aim to fight against 'prosecutorial dictatorship' and provide alternatives to overcome national crises. Cho's decision to participate in politics follows a recent court ruling against him over academic fraud and corruption charges.

Prosecutors sought a five-year prison term for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk during an appellate process. This legal development highlighted the severity of the allegations against Cho Kuk.

Cho Kuk's conviction is upheld by the court and he is sentenced to 2 years in prison.

On 13th February 2024, at 19:00, convicted former Justice Minister Cho Kuk announced the launch of a new political party.

On March 3, 2024, Cho Kuk founded the Rebuilding Korea Party. This marked a significant step in his post-conviction political journey, demonstrating his commitment to contributing to the political landscape.