Cho Kuk Announces Candidacy for Leader of Cho Kuk Innovation Party: "I Will Create the 7th Republic... Will Enshrine 'Social Rights' in the Constitution"

Resigned on the morning of the previous day (3rd) to run for the party convention
Cho Kuk: "I am a flawed person... I apologize"
"I will lead the party to defeat the Joguk Innovation Party"

Jo Guk, former leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, announced that he will challenge for the leadership position for the second time, just one day after his resignation. He stated, "I dream of a winning party, a leading party, and an accomplishing party."

On the morning of the 4th, Jo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and declared his candidacy for the National Party Members' Convention (Party Convention) to be held on the 20th in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. He said, "I am challenging for the second term as the leader of Jo Guk Innovation Party Season 2, aiming to launch a confident fleet that braves the storm." He added, "I stand here to pioneer the path for Jo Guk Innovation Party to go beyond a small but strong party that succeeded in entering the National Assembly to become a true mass party."

Former Representative of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, Jo Guk, is holding a press conference to announce his candidacy for party leader at the National Assembly Communication Office on the morning of the 4th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He admitted, "I am a flawed person," and mentioned, "I have caused pain to the people due to matters involving me and my family." He continued, "I will not make excuses. I have apologized several times, but I will apologize again." Furthermore, he said, "As the person responsible for prosecutorial reform at the Blue House during the Moon Jae-in administration, I failed to prevent the birth of a rogue prosecutorial dictatorship regime," and "I deeply apologize for that mistake."

During the press conference, Jo announced pledges for a 'winning, leading, and accomplishing party.' He stated, "Jo Guk Innovation Party is neither a satellite party nor a supplementary party," and "In future elections, we will field candidates in constituencies where we can win." He added, "We will fight clearly to bring an early end to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," and "We will also lead the National Assembly to break through the deadlock." Furthermore, he emphasized, "We will achieve political reform," and "We will make the Republic of Korea the Seventh Republic and an advanced social rights country."

After the press conference, when asked by reporters about concerns over the poor turnout at the party convention, he replied, "I am not expecting a huge turnout." He continued, "The goal of this party convention is to stabilize the organizational system," and explained, "Since the party was hastily formed during the April 10 general election and I was appointed as leader without election, we aim to secure democratic legitimacy this time." Jo was unanimously appointed as the inaugural party leader by party members on March 3.