Ulsan Mayor Election Interference Under Reinvestigation... Cho Kuk "Tired of the Knife Cuts"

"Already Non-Prosecution Decision... Guessing the Intent"
Im Jong-seok "How Long Will the Prosecution and Special Division's Sword Dance Continue?"

On the 18th, when the prosecution decided to reopen the investigation into the 'Ulsan mayoral election interference' case, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk stated, "I am fed up with the endless knife attacks." Former Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, who was also included in the re-investigation list, criticized, saying, "This is why the prosecution is called a dictatorship."

Former Minister Cho said through social media (SNS) on the same day, "When the investigation into this case began in 2019, the prosecution did not even summon me, and later dismissed the charges," adding, "The first trial related to this case has been sentenced, but the facts related to me remain unchanged, so one can easily guess the intention." He continued, "I am fed up with the endless knife attacks, but I will go whenever the prosecution calls."

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The 'Ulsan mayoral election interference' case involves allegations that the Blue House systematically intervened to ensure the election of Song Cheol-ho, a friend of former President Moon Jae-in and former mayor of Seoul, ahead of the June 2018 local elections. In January 2020, the prosecution indicted 13 people, including former Mayor Song and Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Un-ha, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act. However, in April of the following year, former Chief of Staff Im and former Minister Cho were not prosecuted due to insufficient evidence. At that time, the prosecution stated in the non-prosecution report, "Although there is strong suspicion that former Minister Cho and former Chief of Staff Im participated in the crime through sequential communication, the evidence and circumstances confirmed so far are insufficient to prove the charges." Former Mayor Song and lawmaker Hwang, who were sentenced to three years in prison last November, have appealed.

The prosecution has decided to reopen the investigation into the case. The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office said on the same day, "After thoroughly reviewing existing investigation records, trial records, and recent rulings by the Seoul Central District Court, it was determined that additional investigation is necessary regarding the Ulsan Police Agency's ordered investigation and the bribery charges against the Ulsan mayoral candidate," and ordered the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to reinvestigate. The re-investigation targets five people, including former Chief of Staff Im, former Minister Cho, and former Blue House Civil Affairs Secretary Lee Kwang-cheol. Former Chief of Staff Im and former Minister Cho are suspected of being involved in Song's nomination without a party primary.

Former Chief of Staff Im also claimed, "This is clear political oppression." He appeared on YTN's 'News Live' on the same day and said, "No matter how much it is a prosecution regime, the prosecution is not a bag of marbles to be handled so arbitrarily," adding, "This is why the prosecution is called a dictatorship." He explained, "This case was covered up by the prosecution at the Ulsan District Prosecutors' Office for nearly 1 year and 8 months before then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl ordered it to be transferred to the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office, which started the investigation. I have already been summoned once by the prosecution and investigated, and the prosecution itself dismissed the charges."

Former Chief of Staff Im said, "All parts related to me, including lawmaker Han Byung-do, have already been acquitted," and added, "Reopening the investigation is clear political oppression, and I will firmly fight against it." He further stated, "Since this government took office, almost all senior officials who worked at the Blue House during the Moon Jae-in administration have been investigated, indicted, and tried," and added, "I will watch with the people when the prosecution, led by the special investigation division, will stop its prosecutorial sword dance."