Criticism spreads at social media over Cho's daughter case

Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk, center, speaks to reporters over allegations involving his daughter, Wednesday. Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

Frustration is overflowing in online communities over dubious preferential treatment enjoyed by the daughter of justice minister nominee Cho Kuk amid growing speculation that it helped in her academic career, including college admission.

The latest allegation surrounding the 28-year-old is that she was listed as a lead author in a paper published in a renowned medical journal although she only took part in a two-week internship at a local medical school as a high school student. Many critics believe the academic paper may have helped her get enrolled in Korea University, one of the nation's most prestigious schools.

Also, while attending Pusan National University Graduate School of Medicine, his daughter received a total of 12 million won ($9,930) in scholarships for six straight semesters from 2016 to 2018 although she flunked twice.

A number of posts denouncing Cho and his daughter were found on Koreapas, an online student community at Korea University, Wednesday.

“As I don't have parents like Cho, I have been studying to my dying breath to be a doctor, and have to work at a part time job for my tuition. I am so angry and disappointed,” one student said.

Another post read, “I wonder if she (Cho's daughter) knew what she was writing. Her degree should be canceled.”

The lead writer of an academic paper is typically the person who conducts most of the experiments for the paper. The paper in question was based on experiments using samples collected between 2002 and 2004, and Cho's daughter was 13 years old in 2004.

She entered Korea University in 2010 through a non-scheduled admission. She wrote about the paper and her authorship in her admission essay, which might have played a critical role in her admission to the university.

Students of Seoul National University, the alma mater of the minister nominee, also vented their anger over the allegations

“How can a high school student write a paper as a lead writer after a two-week internship? Even if she was capable of writing the paper, is it sensible that she flunked twice at medical school?” a student wrote in a posting on SNULife, the school's online community.

The public also expressed disappointment with Cho, describing the case as his “hypocritical behavior,” given that he wrote on social media in the past that scholarships should be given based on financial need, not on academic achievement.

However, Cho stood firm against the allegations, rejecting them as “fake news.”

“I humbly accept public criticism, but there was no procedural problem about my daughter's admission,” he told reporters.

“I will explain all the allegations that have surfaced so far at the Assembly confirmation hearing.”