{{Short description|South Korean politician (born 1965)}} {{family name hatnote|Cho||lang=Korean}} {{Multiple issues|1= {{BLP sources|date=October 2019}} {{Cleanup|date=April 2024|reason=References should have more information given, especially author, date of publication, and news source.}} }} {{Use British English|date=August 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Jo Guk (2017-05).jpg | caption = Cho in 2017 | native_name = {{nobold|조국}} | native_name_lang = ko | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|4|6|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Seo District, Busan]], South Korea | office = Leader of the [[Rebuilding Korea Party]] | term_start = 8 September 2025{{efn|Acting: 8 September 2025 – 23 November 2025}} | predecessor = [[Kim Sunmin]] (acting) | term_start1 = 3 March 2024 | term_end1 = 12 December 2024 | predecessor1 = ''Office established'' | successor1 = Kim Sunmin (acting) | office2 = Member of the [[National Assembly (South Korea)|National Assembly]] | term_start2 = 30 May 2024 | term_end2 = 12 December 2024 | constituency2 = {{nowrap|[[List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2024–2028|Proportional representation]]}} | office3 = [[Ministry of Justice (South Korea)|Minister of Justice]] | term_start3 = 9 September 2019 | term_end3 = 14 October 2019 | predecessor3 = [[Park Sang-ki]] | successor3 = {{Plainlist| * [[Kim Oh-soo]] (acting) * [[Choo Mi-ae]] }} | president3 = [[Moon Jae-in]] | office4 = [[Senior Presidential Secretary|Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs]] | president4 = Moon Jae-in | term_start4 = 11 May 2017 | term_end4 = 26 July 2019 | predecessor4 = {{interlanguage link|Cho Dae-hwan|ko|조대환}} | successor4 = {{interlanguage link|Kim Joe-won|ko|김조원}} | party = [[Rebuilding Korea Party|Rebuilding Korea]] (2024, 2025-present) | other_party = {{Plainlist| * [[New Politics Alliance for Democracy]] (2014–2015) * [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2015)|Democratic Party of Korea]] (2015–2023) *[[Independent politicians|Independent]]{{efn|Lost party membership due to criminal conviction and loss of voting and election rights}} (2024-2025) }} | occupation = {{Hlist|Politician|activist|jurist}} | spouse = Chung Kyung-shim | children = 2, including [[Cho Min]] | signature = Cho Kuk signature.svg | education = {{Plainlist| * [[Seoul National University]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]], [[Master of Laws|LLM]]) * [[University of California, Berkeley]] ([[Doctor of Juridical Science|JSD]]) }} | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto | child = yes | hangul = %조국 | hanja = 曺國 }} }} '''Cho Kuk''' ({{Korean|hangul=조국}}; born 6 April 1965<ref name="secretary">{{cite news |date= 17 January 2019|title= [Who Is ?] 조국 청와대 민정수석|url= http://www.businesspost.co.kr/BP?command=article_view&num=110650|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>) is a South Korean politician who is the founder and the current leader of the [[Rebuilding Korea Party]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 March 2024 |title=New political parties brace for upcoming elections |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/03/356_369889.html |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=[[The Korea Times]] |language=en}}</ref> He previously held office as the [[Senior Presidential Secretary|senior secretary to the president for civil affairs]] from 2017 to 2019, as the [[Ministry of Justice (South Korea)|minister of justice]] from September to October 2019, and as a member of the [[List of members of the National Assembly (South Korea), 2024–2028|National Assembly of South Korea]] from May to December 2024.
Born in [[Seo District, Busan]], Cho graduated from the [[University of California, Berkeley]] with a [[Doctor of Juridical Science]] before becoming a professor at [[Seoul National University School of Law]]. Beyond academia, he was active in a range of civic and advocacy organizations concerned with human rights, such as the [[People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy]] and the [[National Human Rights Commission of Korea]]. He entered politics as a senior presidential aide for civil affairs under the [[cabinet of Moon Jae-in]] from May 2017 to July 2019. Cho was subsequently appointed [[Ministry of Justice (South Korea)|Minister of Justice]], a position he held from September 2019 until his resignation on 14 October 2019 due to his involvement in a series of controversies, including allegations of corruption surrounding his family's business activities.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 October 2019 |title=Justice Minister Cho Kuk resigns over corruption allegations |work=Yonhap News Agency |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20191014004700315 |publisher=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |last1=Minji |first1=Lee }}</ref>
In 2023, Cho was convicted of falsifying documents in connection with his children's college admissions and sentenced to two years in prison. In March 2024, he founded the [[Rebuilding Korea Party]] ahead of the [[2024 South Korean legislative election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shin |first=Hyonhee |date=27 March 2024 |title=Disgraced ex-justice minister seeks to shake up South Korea election |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/disgraced-ex-justice-minister-seeks-shake-up-south-korea-election-2024-03-27/ |access-date=14 February 2026 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> In December 2024, the South Korea Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' ruling, effectively disqualifying him from his seat in the 22nd National Assembly of South Korea and barring him from running for office for five years.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shin |first1=Hyonhee |title=South Korea's top court upholds two-year jail term for opposition MP |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/skorea-top-court-upholds-two-year-jail-term-opposition-lawmaker-cho-kuk-local-2024-12-12/ |work=Reuters |date=12 December 2024}}</ref> As a result, he lost his seat in the National Assembly and was barred from running for public office for five years under South Korean law.
He was pardoned by President [[Lee Jae Myung]] on 11 August 2025, restoring his eligibility to run for office again.<ref name="pardon">{{cite news |last1=Bahk |first1=Eun-ji |title=Ex-Justice Minister Cho Kuk given presidential pardon ahead of Liberation Day |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20250811/ex-justice-minister-cho-kuk-given-presidential-pardon-ahead-of-liberation-day |work=The Korea Times|date=11 August 2025}}</ref> Following his release from prison, the Rebuilding Korea Party reinstated his membership.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wonju |first=Yi |date=2025-08-21 |title=Ex-Minister Cho reinstated to minor political party after presidential pardon {{!}} Yonhap News Agency |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250821005000315 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250821123726/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250821005000315 |archive-date=2025-08-21 |access-date=2026-02-15 |work=Yonhap News Agency |language=en}}</ref> Cho was elected as the party's leader in November 2025 with 98.6% approval.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-11-23 |title=Minor Rebuilding Korea Party elects ex-Justice Minister Cho Kuk as leader |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-11-23/national/politics/Minor-Rebuilding-Korea-Party-elects-exJustice-Minister-Cho-Kuk-as-leader/2460953 |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=koreajoongangdaily.joins.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Cho was born in [[Seo District, Busan]], South Korea<ref name="plan">{{cite news |date= 5 November 2010|script-title=ko:진보집권플랜: 오연호가 묻고 조국이 답하다|url= http://www.kyobobook.co.kr/product/detailViewKor.laf?barcode=9788996430520|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="patriamea">{{cite news |date= 11 May 2017|script-title=ko:[프로필]조국 청와대 민정수석비서관|url= http://the300.mt.co.kr/newsView.html?no=2017051110387697333|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> in 1965,<ref name="secretary"/> as the eldest son of the ex-Director of Ungdong Middle School<ref name="ungdong">{{cite news |date= 30 July 2013|script-title=ko:[부음] 조변현 씨 별세, 조국 조권 씨 부친상|url= http://www.kookje.co.kr/news2011/asp/newsbody.asp?key=20130731.22025193320|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> Cho Byun-hyun (died in 2013),<ref name="ungdong"/> and his wife and the current Director of the institute, Park Jung-sook.<ref name="secretary"/><ref name="pjs">{{cite news |date= 9 August 2019|script-title=ko:조국 검증대에… 야당, 54억 재산ㆍ자녀 외고 진학 등 공세 예고|url= https://www.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201908091644069223?did=NA&dtype=&dtypecode=&prnewsid=|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="lkp">{{cite news |date= 12 May 2017|script-title=ko:웅동학원 비판한 자유한국당, 역풍에 나경원 휘청|url= http://www.m-economynews.com/news/article.html?no=19619|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
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.<ref name="patriamea" /> Cho earned bachelor's and master's degrees in law from [[Seoul National University]],<ref name="patriamea"/><ref name="plan"/><ref name="secretary"/> and a [[Doctorate|doctoral degree]] (J.S.D) from the [[University of California, Berkeley]], in the [[United States]].<ref name="patriamea" /><ref name="secretary" /> He was also a visiting scholar at the [[University of Oxford]]<ref name="plan" /> and [[University of Leeds]]<ref name="plan" /> in the [[United Kingdom]].
== Career ==
=== Early career === Cho was previously a lecturer in law at the [[University of Ulsan]]<ref name="plan"/> from 1992<ref name="secretary"/> to 1994 and from 1999 to 2000,<ref name="chokuk">{{cite news |script-title=ko:조국|url= https://people.search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%EC%A1%B0%EA%B5%AD&sm=tab_etc&ie=utf8&key=PeopleService&os=115768|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> then at [[Dongguk University]]<ref name="plan"/> from 2000 to 2001,<ref name="chokuk"/> and later at Seoul National University—where he had earned his bachelor's degree—from 2001 to 2004.<ref name="chokuk"/> While at Seoul National University, he was promoted from lecturer to senior lecturer (2004–2009),<ref name="chokuk"/> then to full professor in 2009.<ref name="chokuk"/><ref name="patriamea"/><ref>{{cite news |date= 21 April 2017|script-title=ko:조국 "송민순, 전직 장관이 중요 문건 마음대로 공개하는 이유는.."|url= https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=081&aid=0002815404|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 24 April 2017|script-title=ko:조국 "안철수 'MB 아바타'·'갑철수' 정치적으로 최악의 질문"|url= https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=011&aid=0003020426|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
=== Political career === Cho showed interest in politics at the end of the 1980s, while studying at university.<ref name="secretary" /> During this time, he was already a member of the [[South Korean Socialist Workers' Alliance]],<ref name="secretary" /><ref name="pjs" /> along with [[Rhyu Si-min]] and [[Eun Soo-mi]]. Cho was detained due to his activities, under breach of the [[National Security Act (South Korea)|National Security Act]], and declared a [[prisoner of conscience]] by [[Amnesty International]].<ref name="secretary" /> Later, he criticised the National Security Act as a "barbaric law" in his book titled ''For the Freedom of Conscience and Ideology''.<ref>{{cite news |date= 1 December 2017|script-title=ko:"피고 국가보안법의 폐지를 선고합니다" …청년 역할극|url= https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=421&aid=0003077243|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
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]],<ref name="plan"/><ref name="chokuk"/> Committee of Determination of Punishment in [[Supreme Court of Korea|Supreme Court]],<ref>{{cite news |date= 7 May 2009|script-title=ko:대법원, 2기 양형위원회 출범|url= https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=003&aid=0002660607|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="plan"/> [[National Human Rights Commission of Korea|National Human Rights Commission]],<ref name="plan"/><ref name="chokuk"/> and the other various organisations.
Cho has never held any elected position,<ref name="secretary"/> even though the former [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2008)|Democratic Party (2008)]]<ref name="dp">{{cite news |date= 24 March 2011|script-title=ko:상품가치 높아지는 조국, 몸 다는 野|url= https://news.mt.co.kr/mtview.php?no=2011032414161928967&outlink=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fko.wikipedia.org|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> and its successor [[Democratic Party (South Korea, 2013)|Democratic Unionist Party]]<ref>{{cite news |date= 17 January 2012|script-title=ko:[뉴스A]단독/한명숙, 공천심사위원장에 조국 교수 영입 추진|url= http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20120118/43391152/2|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> suggested that he run for a position as member of the [[National Assembly]] in [[Bundang]] 2nd constituency.<ref name="secretary"/> There were also expectations that Cho would run for Superintendent of Education in Seoul during the [[2014 South Korean local elections|local elections in 2014]], but he declined.<ref>{{cite news |date= 28 November 2013|script-title=ko:조국 교수, 내년 선거 출마 의사·능력 모두 없다면서…|url= http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20131128/59206943/2|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="secretary"/> He did not run for mayorship of Busan [[2018 South Korean local elections|in 2018]], despite public expectations.<ref name="secretary"/>
==== Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs (2017–2019) ==== [[File:조국 (새정치민주연합 혁신위원).jpg|thumb|Cho Kuk in 2015]] On 11 May 2017, the day after [[Moon Jae-in]] officially assumed the office of president, Cho was appointed [[Senior Presidential Secretary|Senior Secretary to the President]] for Civil Affairs.<ref name="sspca">{{cite news |date= 10 May 2017|title= 靑민정수석에 非검찰 출신 조국 내정..인사수석엔 여성 조현옥|url= https://news.v.daum.net/v/20170510134610009|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="secretary" /> He was one of several non-prosecutors appointed to the position.<ref name="sspca" /><ref name="left">{{cite news |date= 9 August 2019|script-title=ko:[클로즈업] 법무장관 조국, 비(非)검찰 출신의 개혁 사령탑...강남좌파 지적도|url= http://www.newspim.com/news/view/20190809000282|access-date= 9 August 2019 |work=[[NewsPim]] }}</ref> He promised a clear investigation of the [[2016 South Korean political scandal]].<ref name="sspca" /> This was welcomed by the [[People Party (South Korea, 2016)|People's Party]],<ref>{{cite news |date= 13 May 2017|script-title=ko:정윤회 문건, 박지원 "백번 천번 옳은 말, '정의로운 수사' 필요해"|url= https://news.v.daum.net/v/20170513081004473|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> but also attacked by the [[Liberty Korea Party]].<ref>{{cite news |date= 14 May 2017|script-title=ko:자유한국당 "靑민정수석, 정윤회문건 수사 재검토 재고하라|url= http://www.newsis.com/view/?id=NISX20170514_0014893318&cID=10303&pID=10300|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="lkp" />
On 31 December 2018, Cho attended the House Steering Committee of the National Assembly.<ref name="secretary"/> This "surprise" attendance was an issue in South Korean society, as such was not really done by former senior secretaries.<ref name="secretary"/> A source reported that this negatively affected the approval ratings of President Moon.<ref>{{cite news |date= 3 January 2019|script-title=ko:조국 국회출석 통했나? 문 대통령 국정 지지율 반등|url= https://news.v.daum.net/v/20190103104500196|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
Cho was replaced by Kim Joe-won on 26 July 2019.<ref>{{cite news |date= 26 July 2019|script-title=ko:조국 후임 김조원 "잘못땐 지적해달라"|url= http://www.fnnews.com/news/201907261746555432|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
==== Minister of Justice (2019) ==== On 9 August 2019, Cho was nominated for the position of [[Ministry of Justice (South Korea)|Minister of Justice]]<ref name="pjs" /><ref name="lss">{{cite news |date= 9 August 2019|script-title=ko:조국 또 이순신 언급, "서해맹산의 정신으로 소명 완수"|url= http://www.ichannela.com/news/main/news_detailPage.do?publishId=000000160825|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> replacing [[Park Sang-ki]], by President Moon. He quoted General [[Yi Sun-sin]] and promised political reform.<ref name="lss" /> On 9 September, Cho was officially appointed Minister of Justice.<ref>{{cite news |title=South The Korean president appointed the justice minister despite scandals |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/south-korean-president-appoints-justice-minister-despite-scandals-11887300 |accessdate=5 October 2019 |work=CNA |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=9 September 2019 |language=en |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130020425/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/south-korean-president-appoints-justice-minister-despite-scandals-11887300 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cho subsequently resigned on 14 October, just 35 days after taking office due to a prosecution probe into various allegations surrounding his family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20191014097551004|title=[3보] 조국, 취임 35일만에 사의…"저는 검찰개혁 불쏘시개"|last=김 |first=계연|date=14 October 2019|website=[[Yonhap News Agency]]|language=ko|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref>
== Political positions == Cho is often regarded as [[Liberalism|liberal]],<ref name="secretary" /> or a [[Left-wing politics|left-wing politician]].<ref>{{cite news |date= 20 March 2011|script-title=ko:[김순덕 칼럼]분당우파 vs 강남좌파|url= http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20110320/35731181/1|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 22 April 2019|script-title=ko:이언주 "조국 나오면 당연히 붙어야...강남 좌파의 시대 끝났다"|url= https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=02853606622458744&mediaCodeNo=257&OutLnkChk=Y|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="left" /> Regarding the abolition of the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]], he said, "I understood the national sentiment, but it should be replaced with [[life imprisonment]]."<ref>{{cite news |date= 21 February 2018|script-title=ko:유영철·강호순 등 사형 대기자 61명, 이영학 집행은?|url= http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=3608671&ref=A|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> He also mentioned that people should not argue with the criminality of [[abortion]].<ref>{{cite news |date= 11 April 2019|script-title=ko:여성 몸 통제하던 '낙태죄', 66년 만에 위헌 결정|url= http://www.catholicpress.kr/news/view.php?idx=5800|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |date= 24 November 2018|script-title=ko:조국 "민주노총만의 정부 아냐…함께 반보 내딛자"|url= http://imnews.imbc.com/replay/2018/nwdesk/article/4956583_22663.html|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
Cho also claims that the government should induce major companies to lower their salary, to enforce equality between workers in major businesses and workers in smaller businesses.<ref>{{cite news |date= 26 November 2018|script-title=ko:[월요칼럼] 기득권의 논리에 포획당한 민주주의 /이택광|url= http://www.newsmin.co.kr/news/35315/|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
Cho called the declaration of [[2024 South Korean martial law|martial law]] by President [[Yoon Suk Yeol]] on 3 December 2024 "illegal" and said it met conditions for the impeachment of Yoon and [[Kim Yong-hyun (general)|Kim Yong-hyun]], the [[Minister of National Defense (South Korea)|minister of national defense]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Jun-hee |date=4 December 2024 |title=Cho Kuk says declaration of martial law 'illegal,' meets conditions for impeachment |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241204050009 |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Herald]]}}</ref>
== Controversies ==
=== Plagiarism === [[File:The 61st Seoul National University student council "Neil" is conducting a press conference against the appointment of Cho Kuk, the nominee for justice minister.webm|thumb|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.]]Cho was frequently accused of [[plagiarism]].<ref name="secretary" /><ref name="pjs" /><ref>{{cite news |date= 9 August 2019|script-title=ko:조국 지명에 野 반발… "조국 파이터 골라 청문회 투입"|url= http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20190809/96905725/1|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> In July 2013, Song Pyung-in of [[The Dong-A Ilbo]] and a conservative commentator [[Byun Hee-jae]] had mentioned that Cho plagiarized several theses written by Japanese scholars during his studies at [[Seoul National University]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |date= 19 July 2013|script-title=ko:[송평인 칼럼]조국 교수의 표절|url= http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20130719/56539441/1|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 13 July 2013|script-title=ko:[단독] 조국 교수, 석사논문 표절에 병역문제까지|url= http://www.mediawatch.kr/news/article.html?no=241396|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&oid=023&aid=0003471860&sid1=001 |script-title=ko:조국 석사논문, 日 법학책 33군데 출처 안 밝히고 베꼈다 |publisher =Choson Online |access-date= 14 April 2021}}</ref> 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 issued a statement that some issues with his papers were found, though they were not serious.<ref>{{cite news |date= 26 June 2015|script-title=ko:서울대 "조국 교수 석사논문 연구부정행위 없다"|url= https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20150626137500004|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> A few months after the incident, both commentators claimed again that Cho's plagiarism continued at [[University of California, Berkeley]] in 1997.<ref>{{cite news |date= 7 November 2013|script-title=ko:[송평인 칼럼]'표절 의혹' 조국 박사논문 읽어보니|url= http://www.donga.com/news/article/all/20131107/58730943/1|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 29 September 2013|script-title=ko:[단독] 조국 교수, 전문박사논문도 표절논문|url= http://www.mediawatch.kr/news/article.html?no=242653|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> In response, Professor [[John Yoo]] said that no rechecking is required.<ref>{{cite news |date= 27 September 2013|script-title=ko:"버클리대 로스쿨 "조국 교수 논문 찬사" vs 의심 변희재 "재심 요청""|url= http://www.lawissue.co.kr/view.php?ud=15593|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref> Berkeley also mentioned that there was no proof for the accusations.<ref>{{cite news |date= 13 November 2013|script-title=ko:조국 서울대 교수 박사논문 표절 제보 "근거없다" 결론|url= http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/611007.html|access-date= 9 August 2019}}</ref>
=== Tax delinquencies === Cho faced another criticisms regarding tax delinquencies related to the Ungdong Institute.<ref name="secretary"/><ref name="pjs"/> It was reported that he and his family did not pay legal costs for 3 years.<ref name="secretary"/> He accepted that this was true, and made all necessary payments.<ref name="secretary"/><ref name="pjs"/>
===Allegations of illicit business activities=== In 2017, it was revealed that Cho Kuk and his family invested a total of approximately {{KRW|1.4 billion|link=yes}}, with a contract to invest an additional approximately {{KRW|7 billion|link=yes}} into a [[private equity fund]], CO-LINK.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://n.news.naver.com/article/449/0000176400|script-title=ko:75억 약정한 사모펀드, 100% 조국 가족펀드로 드러났다 }}</ref> CO-LINK invested in a Korean company that is contracted in a multi-billion dollar computer network project in South Korea.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/09/04/2019090400242.html|script-title=ko:조국펀드 투자사, 서울 전철 이어 전국 버스 와이파이 사업 따냈었다 |date=17 July 2020 }}</ref>
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]].<ref name="kwon">{{cite news |date= 29 August 2019|script-title=ko:조국 동생 전처, 김해공항서 출국하려다 제지당해|url= http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/08/29/2019082901276.html|access-date= 29 August 2019}}</ref> Despite two full days of news reports, she claimed she was not aware of the flight ban placed on her.<ref name="kwon" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 2020 |script-title=ko:"조국펀드 권력형 범죄인 듯… 참여연대, 증거 갖고있다" |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/10/02/2019100200160.html}}</ref>
On 31 October 2019, Cho Kuk's younger brother, Cho Kwon, was arrested on charges of embezzlement and bribery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prosecutors extend detention of ex-justice minister's wife |publisher=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=1 November 2019 |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20191101000583}}</ref> These charges were later dropped.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Minji |date=18 September 2020 |title=Ex-justice minister's brother sentenced to 1 year in jail |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200918008700315 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |language=en}}</ref>
===Falsification of academic achievements of Cho Min=== {{Main|Cho Min academic credentials scandal}}
A scandals came from his pending [[nomination]] as the Minister of Justice, mainly concerning Cho Kuk's falsification of academic achievements of his daughter, [[Cho Min academic credentials scandal|Cho Min]].
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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cho |first1=Min |last2=Hyun |first2=Kwang Sun |last3=Chung |first3=David Chanwook |last4=Choi |first4=In Young |last5=Kim |first5=Myeung Ju |last6=Chang |first6=Young Pyo |year=2009 |title=ENOS Gene Polymorphisms in Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy |url=https://www.jpatholtm.org/journal/view.php?number=2740 |journal=The Korean Journal of Pathology |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=306–311 |doi=10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2009.43.4.306|doi-access=free }}{{Retracted|doi=10.4132/jptm.2019.09.06|pmid=31537052|http://retractionwatch.com/2019/09/09/unjustified-authorship-spikes-paper-by-daughter-of-south-korea-official/ ''Retraction Watch''|intentional=yes}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/10/05/2019100500089.html|script-title=ko:의학한림원 "조국 딸 제1저자 논문, 황우석 사태와 맞먹는 심각한 부정" |date=17 July 2020 }}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Jun-hee |date=13 June 2023 |title=Seoul Nat'l Univ. sacks disgraced ex-justice minister |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230613000686&np=3&mp=1 |access-date=13 June 2023}}</ref>
On 12 December 2024, Cho's conviction was upheld by the [[Supreme Court of Korea]], paving the way for his losing his seat in the National Assembly and his eligibility to run in presidential elections until 2029.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cho Kuk sentenced 2 years, loses seat, shot at presidency |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241212050051 |access-date=12 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=12 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Cho reported to prison on 16 December,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-minor party leader stresses regime change before entering prison |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241216050032 |access-date=16 December 2024 |work=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=16 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref> after he successfully requested prosecutors to allow him to address official duties and the succession of Rebuilding Korea's leadership.<ref>{{cite news |title=Minor opposition leader Cho Kuk set to begin his imprisonment Monday |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20241213012600320 |access-date=13 December 2024 |work=[[Yonhap News Agency]] |date=13 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
===Arrest of Chung Kyung-sim=== 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.<ref>Korea Times, 11 September 2019, Chosunilbo, 10 September 2019</ref>
On 24 October<ref>{{cite web |date=24 October 2019 |script-title=ko:조국 전 법무부 장관 부인 정경심 교수 구속 |trans-title=Former Justice Minister's wife Prof. Chung Kyung-shim arrested |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/914384.html |publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref> Chung Kyung-sim was charged on 15 counts, including obstruction of business, [[insider trading]], embezzlement, and [[Tampering with evidence|withholding evidence]]. On 23 December 2020, she was found guilty on 11 charges, and sentenced to four years in prison and a total of {{KRW|638 million|link=yes}} (equivalent to around $500,000 US) in fines and "unlawful gains".<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 December 2020|title=Chung Kyung-sim gets four years in jail|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/12/23/national/socialAffairs/Chung-Kyungsim-Cho-Kuk-Seoul-Central-District-Court/20201223193100472.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224085847/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/12/23/national/socialAffairs/Chung-Kyungsim-Cho-Kuk-Seoul-Central-District-Court/20201223193100472.html |archive-date=24 December 2020 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> The embezzlement charges were dismissed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=[Editorial] Regarding the court's verdict against Chung Kyung-shim |url=https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/english_editorials/975828.html |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=[[The Hankyoreh]]}}</ref> The sentence was upheld by the supreme court on 27 January 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=[Newsmaker] 4 years prison confirmed for Cho Kuk's wife on academic fraud |publisher=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=27 January 2022 |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220127000670}}</ref>
==Pardon== Cho and his wife were pardoned by President [[Lee Jae Myung]] on 11 August 2025, restoring his eligibility to run for office again.<ref name="pardon"/> He left prison at midnight on 15 August 2025, on [[National Liberation Day of Korea|Liberation Day]].<ref>{{cite news |title=(LEAD) Ex-minister Cho Kuk set free under presidential pardon |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250814006351315 |work=Yonhap News Agency|date=15 August 2025}}</ref> His membership in the Rebuilding Korea, which was revoked following his conviction, was restored by party's supreme council on 21 August, and he was appointed to head the party's policy think tank.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Minister Cho reinstated to minor political party after presidential pardon |url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250821005000315 |work=Yonhap News Agency|date=21 August 2025}}</ref>
Cho was elected as the party's leader in November 2025 with 98.6% approval.<ref name=":1" /> In his acceptance speech, he pledged to push for legislation on the relocation of the administrative capital, normalization of property taxes, and regulations against Jeonse fraud.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daily |first=The Chosun |date=2025-11-23 |title=Cho Kuk Elected Rebuilding Korea Party Leader with 98.6% Approval |url=https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/11/23/UNTTSDKC4BCL3MOD5OAM6GDYYI/ |access-date=2026-02-15 |website=The Chosun Daily |language=ko}}</ref>
== Bibliography == * ''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)
== Electoral history == === General elections === {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Constituency !! Political party !! Votes (%) !! Remarks |- | 2024 || [[Proportional representation|PR]] (2nd) || [[Rebuilding Korea Party]] || 6,874,278 (24.25%) || '''Elected''' |}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Park Sang-ki]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Justice (South Korea)|Minister of Justice]]|years=2019–2020}} {{s-aft|after=[[Kim Oh-soo]] <small>(acting)</small><br>[[Choo Mi-ae]]}} {{s-bef|before={{interlanguage link|Cho Dae-hwan|ko|조대환}}}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Senior Presidential Secretary|Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs]]|years=2017–2019}} {{s-aft|after={{interlanguage link|Kim Joe-won|ko|김조원}}}} {{s-end}}
{{Leaders of South Korean political parties}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, Kuk}} [[Category:1965 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:South Korean criminals]] [[Category:Justice ministers of South Korea]] [[Category:South Korean politicians convicted of crimes]] [[Category:People from Busan]] [[Category:People from Seo District, Busan]] [[Category:Seoul National University School of Law alumni]] [[Category:UC Berkeley School of Law alumni]] [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Ulsan]] [[Category:Academic staff of Dongguk University]] [[Category:Academic staff of Seoul National University]] [[Category:South Korean legal scholars]] [[Category:Scholars of criminal law]] [[Category:Expelled legislators]]