"Arrogance of Self-Hypnosis to Be Sacrificed"
"Don't Glorify Yourself with Books"
Geun-sik Kim, Chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong District in Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Regarding former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's remark asking the Democratic Party of Korea to "step on me and move forward" in relation to their apology over the 'Cho Kuk incident,' Kim Geunsik, the People Power Party's Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee chairman, sharply criticized, saying, "If you are truly sorry, you should lie down yourself."
On the 2nd, Kim wrote on his Facebook, "You must admit your fault and prostrate yourself flat to seek forgiveness," expressing this view.
He continued, "If you say 'step on me' but hold your head high and part your hair, it is nothing but the reckless arrogance of 'dangling a cicada on a horse's back'?a futile defiance until you are stepped on," he pointed out.
He added, "'Step on me' itself is not wrong, but it is the arrogance of self-hypnosis that you will be sacrificed," and criticized, "You should not glorify yourself with books outside the courtroom while not uttering a word inside it. How can that be the behavior of someone who humbly accepts an apology?"
Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering and greeting at the 'Democratic Party Public Communication and Listening to Public Opinion Results Report Meeting' held on the 2nd in the party leader's conference room at the National Assembly. / Photo by Yonhap News
On the same day, Song Younggil, leader of the Democratic Party, bowed his head regarding the 'Cho Kuk incident,' saying, "It was something that gave youth a sense of frustration and disappointment."
At a 'National Communication and Public Opinion Listening Project Report to the People' held at the National Assembly marking his one-month inauguration, Song addressed allegations of admission fraud involving Cho's children, stating, "Graduating from a good university and securing a good position and network to mutually provide internships and build resumes like a barter system is not necessarily illegal," but added, "It was something that gave frustration and disappointment to countless young people who could not even access such a system."
He further emphasized, "We, who devoted ourselves to the democratization movement and loudly called for fairness and justice and judged others, must reflect deeply on whether we have upheld those principles in our own and our children's matters," stressing, "I believe we must reflect profoundly."
This is the second time the Democratic Party leadership has directly apologized for the Cho Kuk incident, following former leader Lee Hae-chan in October 2019.
In response, former Minister Cho wrote on Facebook, "I humbly accept Leader Song Younggil's remarks," and added, "I hope the Democratic Party now forgets about me and focuses on reform work regarding real estate, livelihood, prosecution, and the media."
He also stated, "As a private citizen who has left public office and as the head of a family devastated by the prosecution's attacks, I will devote myself to self-defense and healing my wounds."
Meanwhile, Cho recently published a memoir titled Cho Kuk's Time. The book is said to contain a summary of the so-called 'Cho Kuk incident' that occurred after his nomination as Minister of Justice in 2019, along with previously unknown stories related to the situation at that time.
Regarding this, Cho wrote on his social media accounts such as Facebook on the 27th of last month, "After a long period of reflection and self-restraint, I carefully prepared this book," and said, "After revealing the facts I wanted to disclose and expressing the words I had kept in my heart, I feel much lighter."
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