"Is It Right to Be Under Investigation for 3 Years?"... Cho Kuk Appears at Prosecution Holding 'Question Mark Coffee'

Cho Kuk, leader of the National Innovation Party, is entering the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office building on the morning of the 31st to undergo prosecution investigation as a witness. [Source=Yonhap News]

Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, appeared at the prosecution on the 31st as a witness to be investigated regarding the appointment process of former National Assembly member Lee Sang-jik as the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation. Before entering the Jinju District Prosecutors' Office, Jo told reporters, "The prosecution has been investigating former President Moon Jae-in for three years," adding, "I wonder if this is the right thing to do." He was holding a regional franchise coffee known as the 'upside-down question mark' and explained, "I wanted to send a message."

The Jo Guk Innovation Party also condemned the prosecution's investigation. Kim Bo-hyeop, the party's chief spokesperson, said in a written briefing that day, "The public knows very well that the prosecution does not use even a fraction of its power investigating former President Moon and his family to uncover the criminal allegations against the 'living powers' Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Geon-hee," and criticized, "Will the petty political revenge of the prosecution dictatorship end only when President Yoon Seok-yeol is impeached?"

Cho Kuk, leader of the National Innovation Party, is entering the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office building on the morning of the 31st to undergo investigation as a witness. Cho is holding an upside-down question mark-shaped coffee.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Chief spokesperson Kim emphasized, "Since the prosecution's thorough investigation of former President Moon's ex-son-in-law has not yielded results, it seems they are changing targets and starting a 'dusting off' operation," adding, "Jo Guk has already stated, 'I do not know former Chairman Lee nor former President Moon's son-in-law.'"

The prosecution is reportedly investigating whether Jo Guk appointed former National Assembly member Lee Sang-jik, founder of Eastar Jet, as chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation during an unofficial Blue House meeting he attended as senior secretary for civil affairs at the end of 2017. This investigation began after the People Power Party filed a complaint, citing that Lee was inaugurated as chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation in 2018 and that in the same year, Seo Mo, former President Moon's son-in-law, was employed as an executive director at Thai low-cost airline Thai Eastar Jet, which Lee had established.