Political circles show interest in SNS messages... Opposition party's general election candidacy interpretation
Potential political controversy and backlash concerns if actually running in the general election
Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk visited Pyeongsan Bookstore on the 10th to meet with former President Moon Jae-in and mentioned that he would "walk a path with no path," signaling the possibility of his candidacy in the upcoming general election.
While the ruling party has collectively criticized him, the opposition evaluates his candidacy as legitimate. There is also a sense of a 'counterattack' in response to criticisms regarding former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Woo Byung-woo's rumored candidacy. If Cho runs, there is a possibility of winning, but it could also pose a burden to the opposition party.
On the 12th, Kim Woong, a member of the People Power Party, sharply criticized on his social media, saying, "The path former Minister Cho Kuk should walk is not a path with no path, but the path to prison."
Earlier, Cho Kuk revealed on social media that he met former President Moon at Pyeongsan Bookstore and said, "In a regressive and retrogressive time where everything about the Moon Jae-in administration is denied and disparaged, I am contemplating what must be done. I will walk a 'path with no path' without a map or compass." This was criticized as effectively hinting at his challenge in next year's general election.
Kim also pointed out, "This is a clich?d expression typical of the 586 idol generation. But the very person who created this regressive time is former Minister Cho Kuk himself," adding, "If he has any conscience left, he cannot talk about regression. Cho Kuk was already sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial, and all his accomplices were also found guilty."
The People Power Party leadership also interpreted Cho's words as a 'declaration of candidacy' and launched attacks. At the party's supreme council meeting that day, Jang Ye-chan, the youth supreme council member, raised his voice, saying, "Former Minister Cho Kuk has effectively declared his candidacy. Fine. Let the double-standard Cho Kuk come out, Kim Hyun-mi who ruined real estate, Kim Sang-jo and Jang Ha-sung who pushed income-led growth, all come out and face the judgment of the people."
Kim Byung-min, another supreme council member, also said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that "His willingness to run seems to be over 200%, almost 100%," adding, "Isn't it a path with no path for someone who should be on trial to run in the general election? But the Democratic Party recently created that path with no path."
In contrast, the opposition has granted 'legitimacy' to Cho Kuk's candidacy as a 'countermeasure against prosecutorial dictatorship.'
Kim Ui-gyeom, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that "I think he can run, and this is not a new topic," adding, "Many people around Cho Kuk have been encouraging him to run for some time. In a way, this is because of his symbolic role as a countermeasure against the prosecutorial dictatorship shown by the Yoon Seok-yeol government."
Hyun Geun-taek, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, predicted on CBS radio, "He probably moved to Bongcheon-dong, near Gwanak-gu, and there are talks about the region. From what I see, he will probably run." He also mentioned, "(Former Senior Secretary Woo) is more straightforward than Cho Kuk. It's about running. His willingness is 1000%," referring to Woo's rumored candidacy and countering the ruling party's criticism.
Predictions that Cho Kuk would run in the general election have been consistently raised. Shin Pyeong, a lawyer known as President Yoon Seok-yeol's mentor, has also suggested several times that Cho Kuk might run in Gwanak-gu.
If Cho Kuk runs, there is a possibility of winning depending on the constituency, but it is also analyzed that it could be a burden for the Democratic Party overall. Former Senior Secretary Woo and Cho Kuk represent the Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in administrations respectively, but if both run, the backlash against Cho Kuk could be stronger.
Cho Won-jin, leader of the Uri Party, analyzed on YTN's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon,' saying, "The backlash against former Senior Secretary Woo is less severe than against former Minister Cho Kuk, and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung may need to keep him in check. Even if Cho Kuk runs, wins, and then relinquishes his parliamentary seat due to legal issues, it would partially restore his honor, and then he might seek a path to replace Lee."
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