Parents convicted for fraud in int`l school admissions

A Seoul court on Tuesday handed down prison sentences to affluent parents who illegally sent their children to international schools by falsifying documents to change their nationality.

Six to 10 months in prison with a two-year stay of execution and 80 to 200 hours of community service were given to those convicted of forging documents and interrupting business. The wife of a business executive and the daughter-in-law of a conglomerate chairman were each given a suspended sentence of eight months and 120 hours of community service.

“The criminal act of the affluent frustrated most of the people who cherished their nationality as a Korean and wanted equal opportunities in education,” the judge said in the ruling, adding, “Given their negative impact on society, they shall be subject to strict punishment.”

In addition, three representatives of the agencies that forged admission documents in return for money from the parents were sentenced to 14 to 30 months.

run-juno@donga.com