People Power Party calls Cho Kuk, who met Moon, a "General Election Candidacy Ploy"

In Commentary, "A Trick to Run in Next Year's General Election"
"Should First Think About How to Pay the Price"

The ruling party criticized former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's visit to Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, where he met former President Moon Jae-in, calling it a "trick to run in the general election."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk (left) met with former President Moon Jae-in in Pyeongsan Village [Image source=Captured from Cho Kuk's Facebook]

On the 11th, Kim Min-su, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement, "The entire nation cannot help but lament the meeting of the two people who delivered South Korea's 'lost five years.'"

Spokesperson Kim strongly criticized, saying, "The public remembers the misdeeds of former Minister Cho, the highest authority who played the 'victim role.' It is outrageous that he says he is 'contemplating his role' when he should be paying for his crimes."

He added, "This behavior of former Minister Cho appears to be nothing but a trick to run in next year's general election," and said, "If he truly reflects on his mistakes and faults, shouldn't he be thinking about how to atone for the harm he caused to the entire nation rather than what he should do?"

People Power Party spokesperson Kim Min-su is delivering a commentary related to former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk at the National Assembly Communication Office on the afternoon of the 11th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also mentioned the 'Sa-uijae (四宜齋)' launched by close aides of former President Moon, attacking, "Core figures of the administration who, obsessed with outdated ideology and political logic, have brought South Korea to the brink with loss of national dignity, skyrocketing housing prices, rental crises, soaring national debt, and statistical manipulation, are not reflecting but are attempting to regroup for national ruin again."

Spokesperson Kim pointed out, "Former President Moon said he would live a forgotten life after retirement, but he is using a book cafe as a base to politicize," and added, "This raises reasonable suspicion that it is a move to evade responsibility for the destruction of people's livelihoods he caused and to avoid judicial risks."

He further stated to former President Moon, former Minister Cho, and others, "Remember that the only path you must take is to atone to the people for South Korea's lost five years and accept the punishment."

On the 10th, former Minister Cho posted on his Facebook, "I visited President Moon Jae-in after a long time, briefly served as a bookstore keeper at Pyeongsan Bookstore, shared some drinks, and then returned home."

He mentioned his connection with former President Moon, which began with support activities during the 2012 presidential election, and said, "On August 9, 2019, I was assigned the task of prosecutorial reform and nominated as Minister of Justice, but my family has since been enduring an unending hellish ordeal."

Former Minister Cho said, "I am reflecting on and reproaching my mistakes and faults, enduring and bearing them," and added, "In a time of regression and retrogression where everything about the Moon Jae-in administration is denied and disparaged, I am contemplating what I should do," and "I will walk the 'pathless path' without a map or compass."

Along with this, former Minister Cho posted photos of walking with former President Moon in Pyeongsan Village, wearing an apron at the counter of Pyeongsan Bookstore, and clinking glasses together.