SEOUL: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a two-year prison sentence for Cho Kuk, a minor opposition party leader, convicted on charges of academic fraud and unlawful interference with a government inspection. The ruling also mandates Cho to forfeit 6 million won (approximately $4,184), effectively ending his political career for the foreseeable future. According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho was found guilty of leveraging his influence to secure academic advantages for his children, including university admissions, and obstructing an inspection into a corruption case during his tenure as a presidential aide. As a consequence of the ruling, Cho will lose his parliamentary seat and his eligibility to run for presidential elections for the next five years. Following the announcement, Cho expressed his acceptance of the court's decision, stating he "humbly accepts" the ruling. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has summoned him to commence his prison term on Friday, although Cho has requested a delay citing the need to transfer his party leadership responsibilities. Prosecution guidelines allow individuals sentenced to prison to defer their reporting by up to three days under specific circumstances, such as urgent medical needs or family emergencies. This means Cho must begin his sentence by Monday at the latest, pending the prosecution's approval of his request. Cho's legal troubles began during his time as a senior presidential secretary for civil affairs from 2017 to 2019, under President Moon Jae-in. He briefly served as justice minister in 2019 before resigning amid the scandal. Indicted in December 2019, Cho faced multiple charges, including document fabrication to aid his children's educational pursuits and accepting a scholarship as a kickback for his daughter, a medical school student in Busan. Further charges were brought against him for using his position to halt an investigation into bribery allegations involving a former vice mayor of Busan.