South Korea Supreme Court Upholds Cho Kuk Sentence

South Korea's Supreme Court upheld a two-year prison sentence for Cho Kuk, a prominent opposition leader and former justice minister, on charges of bribery and academic fraud, specifically for falsifying documents to secure his children's admissions to prestigious schools. The ruling strips Cho of his parliamentary seat and disqualifies him from running for office for the next five years, undermining his party's efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over a recent martial law attempt. Cho's conviction, which also included a fine of 6 million won (approximately $4,200), has further deepened political divisions and discontent among young voters in South Korea. Despite his legal troubles, Cho maintains his innocence and vows that his party will continue its activities. The verdict is set to affect the dynamics within the opposition camp, although another member will inherit his seat in the assembly. Local media suggest that Cho may begin serving his sentence as soon as December 13.