"Investigate the Living Power a Bit"… Cho Kuk Completes Prosecutor's Investigation in 3 Hours (Summary)

"Targeted investigation for 3 years... Even 1/100 of the investigative power to Yoon"

Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, appeared at the prosecution office on the 31st for questioning. After the investigation, Jo stated, "I do not know former Chairman Lee Sang-jik or the son-in-law of former President Moon Jae-in."

On the morning of the 31st, Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, is entering the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office building to undergo investigation as a witness.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 31st, Yonhap News reported that the Criminal Division 3 of Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Han Yeon-gyu) summoned Jo as a witness at around 9:37 a.m. Prosecutors questioned Jo, who was the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House at the end of 2017, about whether he had designated former National Assemblyman Lee Sang-jik, founder of Eastar Jet, as the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation (SBC) during an unofficial Blue House meeting.

The prosecution believes that if Lee was pre-selected as a vice-ministerial level official before the SBC chairman recruitment process, it could be seen as a quid pro quo. The investigation ended around 1 p.m. after about 3 hours and 20 minutes. After the questioning, Jo told reporters, "I think this investigation has problems from the start, but I came forward as a citizen who abides by the law because there are basic facts I need to clarify." He emphasized, "I do not know former Chairman Lee Sang-jik, nor do I know the son-in-law of former President Moon Jae-in."

He also stated, "The appointment of the SBC chairman was carried out through the usual personnel procedures, with recommendations from the Personnel Secretary’s Office and verification by the Civil Affairs Secretary’s Office," and added, "During the process of appointing former Assemblyman Lee as SBC chairman, the name of Moon’s son-in-law, Seo Mo, was never mentioned, nor was employment at Thai Star Jet discussed," according to the prosecution investigation.

Furthermore, Jo said, "I refused to testify on other matters because I do not know how my words might be misused," and criticized, "I believe this investigation is conducted with a predetermined target, which violates basic ethics." He continued, "I hope the prosecution would investigate President Yoon Seok-yeol and First Lady Kim Geon-hee, who hold real power, even one-hundredth as much as they have investigated former President Moon and his family."

This investigation began after the People Power Party and civic groups filed complaints four times between September 2020 and December 2021. The People Power Party alleged that Lee’s appointment as SBC chairman in 2018, the year after the unofficial meeting, and the hiring of Seo Mo, former President Moon’s son-in-law, as executive director at Thai Star Jet, a Thai low-cost airline founded by Lee, were related. Seo had previously worked at a gaming company but had no experience in the aviation industry, raising concerns about his appointment to an executive position at a fledgling airline with poor initial performance.

On the morning of the 31st, Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, is entering the Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office building holding a coffee with the "Upside-down Question Mark" trademark, to undergo prosecution investigation as a witness.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 31st, Jo appeared holding a coffee cup with an inverted question mark logo. The coffee with the question mark logo was reportedly intended as a message to the prosecution. Kim Bo-hyeop, chief spokesperson of the Jo Guk Innovation Party who accompanied Jo, said, "Originally, if the prosecution had quietly summoned him, Jo would have quietly cooperated with the investigation. However, the petty prosecution regime colluded with some media outlets that report whatever they are told and leaked the news of Jo’s summons." He added, "We wanted to send a message through the coffee: 'Why on earth?', 'For what reason?', 'Why us?' (are we being summoned and investigated?)."

Just before the investigation, Jo also said, "I believe this investigation ultimately targets former President Moon and has been a focused probe for three years," and criticized, "It has already been three years since the Yoon administration began, and it is pathetic how long they will keep blaming the previous government."