Definition – Cho Yoon-sun (Korean: 조윤선; born 23 August 1955) is a South Korean politician who has held multiple cabinet positions in the government of the Republic of Korea and later faced criminal prosecution for corruption.
Overview – Born in Gyeonggi Province, Cho entered public service after completing higher education in South Korea. She became a prominent member of the conservative Saenuri Party (formerly the Grand National Party). Under President Lee Myung‑bak, Cho served in several ministerial roles, most notably as Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (2008–2009) and as Minister of Gender Equality and Family (2008–2010). She was subsequently elected to the National Assembly, representing a constituency in Gyeonggi Province. In 2014, Cho was implicated in a large‑scale corruption investigation that involved alleged bribery and influence‑peddling linked to government contracts. The courts convicted her in 2015; she received a prison sentence and a fine, which marked a significant episode in South Korean political scandal history.
Etymology / Origin – The name “Cho Yoon‑sun” follows the conventional Korean naming order, with the family name “Cho” (조) placed first, followed by the two‑syllable given name “Yoon‑sun” (윤선). The family name “Cho” is derived from the Chinese character 趙, a common Korean surname of Chinese origin. The given name “Yoon‑sun” can be represented by various Hanja characters, each imparting different meanings (e.g., 윤 ‘allow, consent’ and 선 ‘goodness, virtuous’), though the specific characters used for Cho’s name are not publicly confirmed.
Characteristics –
- Political affiliation: Member of the Saenuri Party, a major conservative political party in South Korea.
- Policy focus: While serving as minister, she oversaw initiatives related to cultural development, sports promotion, and gender‑related policies.
- Legal outcome: Convicted of bribery and abuse of power; sentenced to imprisonment and ordered to pay a monetary penalty.
- Public perception: Her career has been widely discussed in South Korean media, especially in the context of anti‑corruption efforts and the broader scrutiny of government officials during the Lee Myung‑bak administration.
Related Topics –
- Saenuri Party (formerly Grand National Party)
- Lee Myung‑bak administration (2008–2013)
- South Korean political corruption scandals
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (South Korea)
- Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (South Korea)
- National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
All information presented reflects publicly available, verifiable sources up to the knowledge cutoff date.