The South Korean government has freed former Minister of Justice, Cho Kuk, after being sentenced to four years imprisonment for falsifying the academic qualifications of his children.
Kuk, who has served two years from the term imposed on him by the court, was freed by the government as part of the ongoing plans to boost political unity in the country,
President Lee Myung, who announced the decision on Monday, said that Kuk will be freed after serving half of the imposed jail term.
Myung said that Kuk’s lawbreaking act of forging academic records for his children to aid their entry to prestigious institutions has now been overlooked and would be freed alongside other politicians serving jail terms for different offences.
The President who assumed power in June, said that the incident has struck a deep nerve in a country which is known for its educational zeal and fiercely competitive school environment.
Myung stressed that the incident which happened in 2019 caused a major uproar in South Korea which forced the erstwhile minister to resign from his designation.
According to the government, the former Minister’s release would be confirmed this week.
