In a surprising political turn, South Korea’s former justice minister, Cho Kuk, will walk free this Friday after serving only eight months of his two-year prison sentence for academic forgery.

Cho, once considered a rising star in South Korean politics and a possible presidential contender, saw his career derailed in 2019 when allegations surfaced that he and his wife, Chung Kyung-sim, forged documents to help their children gain unfair advantages in college and graduate school admissions.

The scandal, which sparked nationwide protests, eventually led to convictions for both. Chung was sentenced to four years but released on parole in 2023. Cho faced additional charges, including taking an online exam for his son at a U.S. university, and was found guilty of abusing his position as a professor to manipulate admissions processes for years.

Despite the controversy, Cho’s political influence lingered. His Rebuilding Korea party rode public dissatisfaction with South Korea’s major parties to win 12 parliamentary seats in 2024, including one for himself. He even led impeachment efforts against President Yoon Suk Yeol after a controversial martial law declaration.

However, when the Supreme Court upheld his conviction in December 2024, Cho lost his parliamentary seat and entered prison.

Now, the government is including Cho among 27 high-profile pardons announced for Liberation Day. Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho said the decision considered each individual’s “contribution to the state” alongside the severity of their crimes.

For supporters, Cho’s release marks a chance for political resurgence. For critics, it’s a worrying sign of leniency for powerful figures caught in corruption scandals. Either way, Cho Kuk is stepping back into the public eye, and South Korea will be watching closely.