{{Short description|South Korean politician (born 1965)}} {{family name hatnote|Cho||lang=Korean}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cho Yoon-sun | native_name = {{small|{{nobold|조윤선}}}} | native_name_lang = ko | image = Culture Minister Meeting PartriciaSchultz 03 (cropped).png | caption = Cho in 2016 | office3 = Member of the National Assembly | term_start3 = 30 May 2008 | term_end3 = 29 May 2010 | constituency3 = Proportional representation | office1 = Minister of Gender Equality and Family | prime_minister1 = Chung Hong-won | term_start1 = 26 February 2013 | term_end1 = 13 June 2014 | predecessor1 = Kim Geum-rae | successor1 = Kim Hee-jeong | office2 = Senior Secretary for Political Affairs | president2 = Park Geun-hye | term_start2 = 12 June 2014 | term_end2 = 18 May 2015 | predecessor2 = Park Jun-woo | successor2 = Hyun Gi-hwan | office = Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism | prime_minister = Hwang Kyo-ahn | term_start = 5 September 2016 | term_end = 21 January 2017 | predecessor = Kim Jong-deok | successor = Song Soo-geun (Acting) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|7|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = Seoul, South Korea | death_date = | death_place = | party = Saenuri Party | alma_mater = Seoul National University<br>Columbia University | signature = | module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto |child = yes |hangul = %조윤선 |hanja = 趙允旋 }} }} '''Cho Yoon-sun''' (born 22 July 1965) is a South Korean lawyer, writer and politician. She formerly served as the South Korean Minister of Gender Equality and Family and later as its Minister of Culture. However, she was later jailed after being convicted of abuse of power and coercion.
== Life and career==
Cho Yoon-sun was born on 22 July 1965 in Seoul. She attended Sehwa Girls' High School, graduating in 1984, and then Seoul National University where she received her bachelor's degree in International Relations in 1988. She later went to Columbia Law School where she received her Master of Laws degree in 2001.<ref name="MC-bio">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mct.go.kr/english/ministry/minister/profile.jsp |year=2015 |title=Minister profile |publisher=ROK Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121022419/http://www.mct.go.kr/english/ministry/minister/profile.jsp |archive-date=21 January 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy |access-date=21 January 2017 }}</ref>
She passed the Korean bar in 1991, and joined the Kim and Chang Law Firm where she became a partner.<ref name="MC-bio" /> During the 2002 South Korean presidential election she worked as a spokesperson for Lee Choi-chang of the Grand National Party.<ref>The Grand National Party was the former name of the Saenuri Party.</ref><ref name="MC-appointment">{{Cite news|title=Park's trusted confident named new culture minister |date=16 August 2016 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2016/08/16/24/0200000000AEN20160816004851315F.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121025152/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2016/08/16/24/0200000000AEN20160816004851315F.html |archive-date=21 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> She left Kim & Chang in 2006 to work for Citibank Korea where she became General Counsel and a managing director. She left Citibank Korea in 2008 when she was elected to the 18th South Korean National Assembly.
In 2010, together with General Baek Sun-yeop,<ref>General Baek was Chief-of-Staff of the South Korean Army (1952–1954) during the Korean War. See, ''e.g.'' {{Cite book|author=Cumings, Bruce |year=1981 |title=The Origins of the Korean War |location=Princeton, New Jersey |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-09383-3}}, and again (1957–1959).</ref> Cho helped establish the Korean War Memorial Foundation which supplies scholarships to the descendants of veterans of the Korean War. Cho served as vice-chairperson of the foundation from July 2010 to March 2013.<ref name="WEF-bio">{{Cite web|title=Cho Yoon-Sun |publisher=World Economic Forum |url=https://www.weforum.org/people/cho-yoon-sun |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927155613/https://www.weforum.org/people/cho-yoon-sun |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> Beginning in July 2010, she acted as a goodwill ambassador for the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).<ref name="WEF-bio" />
In 2013, she was appointed as South Korea's Minister of Gender Equality and Family.<ref name="GEF-appointment">{{Cite news|title=Park names KDI chief as deputy premier for economic affairs |date=17 February 2013 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/02/17/51/0301000000AEN20130217002753315F.HTML |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217082119/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/02/17/51/0301000000AEN20130217002753315F.HTML |archive-date=17 February 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> In 2014, Cho left the ministry to become President Park Geun-hye's Senior Secretary for Political Affairs.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Cho Chung-un |date=19 June 2014 |title=Park's new political aide faces challenges |newspaper=The Korea Herald |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140619001193 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620080252/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140619001193 |archive-date=20 June 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> However, she resigned that post in 2015 after failing to meet the president's goals for public employee pension reform.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Park's aide for political affairs quits over pension reform |date=18 May 2015 |publisher=Yonhap News Agency |url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2015/05/18/93/0200000000AEN20150518006100315F.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722232834/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2015/05/18/93/0200000000AEN20150518006100315F.html |archive-date=22 July 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author1=Yi Yong-wuk |author2=Yu Jeong-in |date=19 May 2015 |title=Pressured Reshuffle? Cho Yoon-sun Swept away in the Wake of Failed Pension Reforms: Reason behind the Abrupt Resignation of Senior Secretary for Political Affairs |newspaper=Kyunghyang Shinmun |url=http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?code=710100&artid=201505191912437 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524232844/http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201505191912437&code=710100 |archive-date=24 May 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy |access-date=24 January 2017 }}</ref> Cho then taught for a year at Sungshin Women's University's College of Law.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Ex-Park Aide to Teach at Sungshin Women's University |date=10 September 2015 |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/09/10/2015091000968.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912221235/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/09/10/2015091000968.html |archive-date=12 September 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> thumb|left|Cho in 2016 In August 2016, President Park appointed Cho as the new Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.<ref name="MC-appointment" /> She resigned the post in January 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Jung Nok-yong |title=Culture Minister Resigns After Arrest |date=23 January 2017 |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/01/23/2017012301243.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124164638/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/01/23/2017012301243.html |archive-date=24 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>
===Controversies=== In both her confirmation hearings for Minister of Gender Equality and Family in 2013 and for Minister of Culture in 2016, Cho was taken to task for her lavish life-style and conspicuous consumption.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Jun Ji-hye |title=Culture minister nominee grilled over alleged property speculation |date=31 August 2016 |newspaper=The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/08/116_213168.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901153022/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/08/116_213168.html |archive-date=1 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> In 2016 her profits from real estate speculation were also an issue.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Budget bill feud holds back hearing |date=1 September 2017 |newspaper=The Korea Herald |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160831000894 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901125252/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160831000894 |archive-date=1 September 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref>
In December 2016, as part of the continued investigation of corruption under President Park Geun-hye, the existence of a political blacklist of artists came to light. Cho was charged with helping to create the list, although she denied it.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=Kil, Sonia |title=Korean Minister Apologizes for Blacklisting Artists, Denies Involvement |date=10 January 2017 |magazine=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/korean-minister-apologizes-for-blacklist-1201956816/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110200725/http://variety.com/2017/film/asia/korean-minister-apologizes-for-blacklist-1201956816/ |archive-date=10 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> In January 2017, Cho was arrested on corruption and perjury charges,<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Reuters |title=South Korea's culture minister Cho Yoon Sun arrested over arts blacklist in political scandal |date=21 January 2017 |newspaper=The Straits Times|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-koreas-culture-minister-cho-yoon-sun-arrested-over-arts-blacklist-in-political |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121042114/http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-koreas-culture-minister-cho-yoon-sun-arrested-over-arts-blacklist-in-political |archive-date=21 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Ko Dong-hwan|title=Culture minister, ex-presidential chief of staff arrested over blacklist of 'left-leaning' artists |date=21 January 2017 |newspaper=The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2017/01/356_222511.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121042133/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2017/01/356_222511.html |archive-date=21 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> and she subsequently resigned as Minister of Culture.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Bernama |date=23 January 2017 |title=S Korea president Park's key aides appear before independent counsel's office |newspaper=Astra Awani |location=Malaysia |url=http://english.astroawani.com/world-news/s-korea-president-parks-key-aides-appear-independent-counsels-office-129912 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124171001/http://english.astroawani.com/world-news/s-korea-president-parks-key-aides-appear-independent-counsels-office-129912 |archive-date=24 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> In February formal indictments were issued charging her with abuse of power, coercion and perjury.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Special counsel indicts Kim, Cho over blacklist |date=7 February 2017 |newspaper=The Korea Herald |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170207000766 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207071401/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20170207000766 |archive-date=7 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Reuters |title=Cho Yoon-sun, Former South Korean Culture Minister, Indicted On Corruption Charges |newspaper=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cho-yoon-sun-south-korea-indictments_us_5899842ae4b040613138e524 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207100609/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cho-yoon-sun-south-korea-indictments_us_5899842ae4b040613138e524 |archive-date=7 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> She is being represented by nine lawyers, including her attorney husband Park Seong-yeop ({{Korean|hangul=박성엽|labels=no}}).<ref>{{Cite news|script-title=ko:조윤선, 구치소 방에서 생쥐 나와…"달래주느라 애먹었다" |date=14 April 2017 |language=ko |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/04/14/2017041402180.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529025057/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/04/14/2017041402180.html |archive-date=29 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|agency=Agence France-Presse |date=30 March 2017 |title=From president to prisoner: Park Geun-Hye's new life behind bars |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/31/from-president-to-prisoner-park-geun-hyes-new-life-behind-bars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419072303/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/31/from-president-to-prisoner-park-geun-hyes-new-life-behind-bars |archive-date=19 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|script-title=ko:조윤선, 남편 포함 변호인 9명 선임… 김기춘, 6명 변호인단 꾸려 |trans-title=Cho Yoon-seon, nine lawyers including husband ... Kim Ki-chun, pack up six defenders |date=10 February 2017 |language=ko |newspaper=Koeean Law Times |url=https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/Legal-News/Legal-News-View?serial=107957 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529032826/https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/Legal-News/Legal-News-View?serial=107957 |archive-date=29 May 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On 27 July 2017, Cho was convicted of perjury for lying about the blacklist to the National Assembly. The Seoul Central District Court suspended her prison term and released her from jail the same day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/world/asia/south-korea-park-aides-artists-blacklist.html|title=6 Ex-Officials in South Korea Are Sentenced for Blacklisting Artists|last=Choe|first=Sang-hun|date=2017-07-27|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-26|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On 23 January 2018, Cho was convicted of her role in drawing up plans to blacklist over 10,000 South Korean artists critical of President Park. She was arrested in the courtroom and was sentenced to two more years of prison in addition to the six months she served on the minor perjury charge from January to July 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Former South Korean culture minister jailed over blacklist of artists deemed critical of Park Geun-hye |date=23 January 2018 |agency=Agence France-Presse |newspaper=South China Morning Post |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2130123/former-south-korean-culture-minister-jailed-over-blacklist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123070906/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2130123/former-south-korean-culture-minister-jailed-over-blacklist |archive-date=23 January 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>
In August 2018, in a separate corruption case involving funds from the National Intelligence Service, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Cho to serve six years in prison and to pay a fine of 100 million won ($90,000).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lee |first=Claire |date=31 August 2018 |title=Prosecution requests 4 years prison for ex-president's chief of staff |newspaper=The Korea Herald |url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180831000664 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015082808/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180831000664 |archive-date=15 October 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>
==Writing career== Cho has written about culture in South Korea. She has published two books, and regularly writes for magazine publication.<ref name="MC-appointment" /> Among her works are the books ''Meeting Opera at an Arts Gallery'',<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cho |first=Yoon-sun |year=2007 |script-title=ko:미술관에서 오페라를 만나다 오페라와 명화 |trans-title=Meeting Opera at an Arts Gallery |language=ko |location=Seoul |publisher=Sigongsa |isbn=978-89-527-5040-2}}</ref> which was chosen by the Ministry of Culture as the Cultural Book of the Year for 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cho, Yoon-Sun |year=2010 |publisher=World Knowledge Forum |url=http://www.wkforum.org/WKF/2010/include/inc_main_eng_speaker_pop.php?lecturer_code=3372&year=2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126021047/http://www.wkforum.org/WKF/2010/include/inc_main_eng_speaker_pop.php?lecturer_code=3372&year=2010 |archive-date=26 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref> and ''Culture is the Answer'' (2011).<ref>Korean title is "문화가 답이다", {{ISBN|978-89-527-6353-2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Kim In-eop |date=19 August 2016 |script-title=ko:조윤선: 박 대통령이 3번 발탁한 '朴의 여자' |trans-title=Cho Yoon-sun: President Park's third appointment of 'Park's woman' |language=ko |newspaper=The Chosun Ilbo |url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/08/19/2016081902283.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819092656/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2016/08/19/2016081902283.html |archive-date=19 August 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Clear}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, Yoon-sun}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Culture ministers of South Korea Category:Government ministers of South Korea Yoon-sun Category:Members of the National Assembly (South Korea) Category:20th-century South Korean lawyers Category:21st-century South Korean women politicians Category:21st-century South Korean politicians Category:South Korean women writers Category:South Korean politicians convicted of crimes Category:Women government ministers of South Korea Category:21st-century South Korean lawyers Category:Women's ministers of South Korea Category:Women members of the National Assembly (South Korea) Category:21st-century South Korean women lawyers Category:Sehwa Girls High School alumni