Time for deep self-reflection, Mr. Cho

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk received a two-year jail sentence in the appeals court, the same as the ruling in his first trial. The Seoul High Court agreed with the lower court last week in finding him liable for the counts related to favoritism and abusing power to help his children get into elite universities, and delivered a heavy sentence. The high court based its ruling on the suspect’s “refusal to admit to the wrongdoings or repent of his criminal acts.” Cho kept maintaining that he did not break any laws though his action could be “morally wrong.”

More than four years have passed since the prosecution indicted Cho — and a year has passed since he was found guilty in the first trial. The bench did not order his arrest before the coming third trial, which goes against the tradition of having a suspect arrested when he or she is found guilty in two lower courts.

The iconic identity of Cho as the champion of justice and righteousness has proven to be a lie and hypocritical. He ended up only fanning the divide and conflict in our society. Cho must atone for disheartening young people by lavishing his children with privileges to send them to good schools using his influence. The faked internship and documents that helped his children get admitted to top colleges shattered confidence in the fairness of the college admission system. The high court also ruled that Cho abused his power by stopping a Blue House special inspection team from investigating a former deputy mayor of Busan loyal to then-President Moon Jae-in for corruption while he was a senior secretary to Moon. Cho reiterates that his action did not violate any laws.

A senior government official must pay for foul actions and irregularities according to the law and principle. But the trial process on Cho took too long. Justice delayed is indeed justice denied. Cho plans to take his case to the Supreme Court, obviously to buy more time. The Supreme Court must hand over a final judgment quickly, as Cho is thinking of running in the April 10 parliamentary elections.

Cho’s potential bid in the legislative election or creating a satellite party is ludicrous. Even if he is somehow elected, he can hardly perform a job as a legislator because he was already sentenced to a guilty sentence strong enough to deprive him of his seat in the National Assembly. If his jail term is determined in the top court, he will lose his legislative seat.

The Cho couple must sincerely apologize for their wrongdoings. Most people want Cho to repent for his past deeds. Yet politicians continue to court Cho. If they continue to back him, they also will face a grim judgment from voters.