Cho Eung-cheon on Park's Final Verdict: "Mixed Emotions... Once Served with Sincerity"

Jo Eung-cheon, 'Cheongwadae Document Leak' Not Guilty... "Passed Through a Long Tunnel"

Rep. Cho Eung-cheon of the Democratic Party of Korea is questioning during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on October 20 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 14th, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon expressed his thoughts, saying, "Having passed through a long tunnel, I will obey the truth and the Constitution even more," after receiving a final acquittal verdict from the Supreme Court in the 'Cheongwadae Document Leak' case.

In a post on his Facebook on the same day, Rep. Cho said, "I will become a member of the National Assembly who is not ashamed before the people through legislative activities that do not betray my convictions and conscience."

He added, "From the beginning, I was confident that I did nothing shameful to my family and subordinates," and said, "Therefore, I was able to remain dignified throughout the painful targeted investigation, detention warrant review, and indictment."

He continued, "During the process, it was unfortunate that the late Officer Choi Kyung-rak passed away, and Police Superintendent Park Gwan-cheon ultimately received a suspended sentence, preventing him from ending his public service honorably," and said, "I pray for Officer Choi's soul and offer consolation to Superintendent Park."

Also, regarding the Supreme Court's final verdict on former President Park Geun-hye on the same day, Rep. Cho wrote, "Since the final verdict was delivered on the same day for someone I once sincerely served, mixed feelings arise," and added, "I sincerely wish for her health."

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice No Jeong-hee) upheld the lower court's acquittal verdict in the appeal trial of Rep. Cho, who was indicted on charges including violation of the Presidential Records Management Act. Former Cheongwadae administrative officer Park Gwan-cheon, who was indicted together, had his sentence of 8 months imprisonment with 2 years probation confirmed.

Rep. Cho, who was the Secretary for Public Office Discipline at Cheongwadae, was indicted in January 2015 on charges of illegally removing 17 internal Cheongwadae documents from June 2013 to January 2014 along with Superintendent Park.