Ex-Minister Cho Myung-gyun's suspended sentence upheld for pressuring resignations

Former Unification Minister Cho Myung-gyun has received a confirmed suspended prison sentence from the Supreme Court. The conviction stems from allegations that he coerced public officials appointed during the previous Park Geun-hye administration to resign shortly after the Moon Jae-in government took office.

The Supreme Court's decision, made on July 16, upheld a lower court's ruling of a six-month prison sentence, suspended for one year, for abuse of power and obstruction of business. This verdict comes three and a half years after prosecutors initially indicted Cho.

The "blacklist allegations" center on claims that the Moon administration, through its Civil Affairs Office, compiled lists of public officials appointed by the prior government and pressured them to resign. Investigations began after the People Power Party filed complaints in 2019 and 2022.

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Even if the Vice Minister and Director General, who were instructed by the Minister, did not directly use the word 'resignation,' it appears they understood they were demanding the resignation of Chairman Son.

Cho was accused of pressuring Son Kwang-ju, then head of the North Korean Refugees Support Foundation (now the North-South Unification Foundation), to resign in July 2017, despite Son having about a year left in his term. Prosecutors argued that Cho directly demanded Son's resignation after Son refused to step down quietly. While Cho was acquitted in the first trial, the appellate court found him guilty, stating that subordinates understood they were being asked to secure Son's resignation, even if the word 'resignation' was not explicitly used. The appellate court emphasized that a minister must adhere to laws and ensure the autonomy and responsible management of public institutions, deeming Cho's actions highly blameworthy.

Previously, former Environment Minister Kim Eun-kyung also received a two-year suspended sentence in 2022 for similar allegations of forcing resignations from executives of affiliated organizations.

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As a minister responsible for public institutions, one must not only comply with laws but also, in light of the principle of ensuring autonomous and responsible management of public institutions, the degree of blame cannot be considered light.