Cho Kuk: "Am I part of the Banmyeong Group? Presidential bid? Many write such fiction"

"I am a mess... Reflecting while taking care of my family"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk dismissed some media reports claiming that he would form an anti-Myeong (anti-Lee Jae-myung) group in next year's general election to aim for the next presidential term, saying, "I am taking care of my battered family and reflecting again and again on the past and present."

On the 16th, Cho posted on his Facebook a screenshot of a media report stating ▲Cho has no way out and intends to use running in the general election as a stepping stone to the next presidential bid ▲the possibility of receiving the Democratic Party's nomination is very slim ▲therefore, he might join a pro-Moon (친문) new party ▲he will form an anti-Myeong group together with former President Moon Jae-in and former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon ▲and if that happens, there is a possibility of a clash between the Cho Kuk fandom and the Lee Jae-myung fandom.

In this post, he said, "Many write novels based on groundless imagination and speculation, borrowing the form of news articles," adding, "I am taking care of my battered family and reflecting again and again on the past and present." This is consistent with his previous stance that he has not yet decided whether to run in the general election and has never thought about engaging in politics.

Cho Kuk was indicted along with his wife, former Dongyang University professor Jung Kyung-shim, on charges including forging documents related to their daughter Cho Min's college entrance. He was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial and has appealed. Previously, Cho expressed his intention to focus solely on the ongoing trial for the time being. The first hearing of Cho's appeal trial will be held on the 17th.

Meanwhile, Cho's daughter Cho Min recently withdrew lawsuits against Korea University and Pusan National University seeking to cancel their decisions to revoke her admission, and his son Cho Won voluntarily returned his master's degree from Yonsei University. On her social media, Cho Min stated, "I want to abandon everything and return to my original intention to start again from scratch," adding, "I will contemplate my future where I can contribute to society with a sense of social responsibility."

It is known that the prosecution is considering a non-prosecution disposition for Cho Min and Cho Won.