Kim Geun-sik "The 2016 Gwanghwamun Candlelight Vigil and the 2019 Seocho-dong Candlelight Vigil Have Been Tarnished"

Joguk "If there had been no citizen candlelight vigils last year, the prosecution reform bill would not have passed"

A photo posted by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk on his Facebook on the 14th. Photo by Cho Kuk Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Professor Kim Geunsik of Gyeongnam National University, chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district committee in Seoul, criticized on the 14th, saying, "Do not defile the Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil with false prosecution reform aimed at protecting Cho Kuk."

Professor Kim said in a post on his Facebook that day, "The 2016 Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil was not a demand for prosecution reform."

He pointed out, "At that time, the candlelight vigil was a demand to change the incompetent and uncommunicative president and the Blue House that was manipulated by state affairs corruption," adding, "Reforming the Blue House, which extended from Park Geun-hye to the inner circle of power and Choi Soon-sil, was the essence of the Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil."

He continued, "What decisively defiled the Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil was the Seocho-dong candlelight vigil in 2019," criticizing, "The Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil that brought down the Blue House power was distorted into a dirty candlelight vigil defending Cho Kuk, the Blue House power's protection squad."

Professor Kim emphasized, "The 2016 Gwanghwamun candlelight vigil was not about prosecution reform but a demand for reform of the president and the Blue House. However, the Moon Jae-in administration has been abusing the candlelight vigil to create a prosecution loyal to power to protect the president and the Blue House, neglecting the original candlelight reform," and stressed, "Please do not attach that noble candlelight vigil anywhere just to save Cho Kuk."

In another post, he raised his voice, saying, "Isn't it a bit embarrassing for someone to openly call themselves a martyr? Even if their admission fraud and abuse of power charges are concluded guilty, they are preemptively laying the groundwork for the excuse that they are a victim who sacrificed themselves while advocating prosecution reform, feeling unfair and pitiful."

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, chairman of the Seoul Songpa-byeong district of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier that day, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk posted on his Facebook, "On this day last year, October 14, I stepped down from the position of Minister of Justice. At that time, artist Leeha uploaded this picture," along with a photo.

The picture posted by former Minister Cho depicts a candlelight vigil with Cho's image lighting the fuse of a bomb labeled "Prosecution Reform." The picture also includes the phrase, "Thank you for your hard work. I'm sorry. I will not forget."

Former Minister Cho said, "If it were not for the citizens' candlelight vigil in the second half of last year, the passage of the prosecution reform bill at the end of the year would not have happened," adding, "I repeatedly emphasize that prosecution reform and media reform are the institutional completion of political democratization." He further argued, "Although the adjustment of investigative authority between the prosecution and police is insufficient, a knot has been tied," and "After the revised law is enforced, ultimately, we must move toward the 'separation of investigation and prosecution.'"