Cho, '2-Year Prison Sentence' Confirmed, Loses Parliamentary Seat
"Humbly Accepting... Will Fulfill Responsibilities"
Procedure to Succeed by Next Candidate Professor Baek Seon-hee Begins
Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, who was sentenced to 2 years in prison for charges including 'child admission fraud,' expressed his position by saying he "humbly accepts" the verdict. On this day, Jo lost his position as party leader and proportional representation member of the National Assembly.
On the 12th, after the Supreme Court's final ruling, Jo held a press conference at the National Assembly. Introducing himself as the "former leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party," Jo reflected, "Every moment spent with you as party leader was a precious gift." He continued, "As a citizen who abides by the law and principles, I will fulfill my responsibilities," adding, "I am pausing briefly, but this does not mean a retreat for the Jo Guk Innovation Party."
Former leader of the Innovation Party, Cho Kuk, who was sentenced to 2 years in prison by the Supreme Court on charges including 'admission fraud involving his children' and 'cover-up of Blue House inspection,' is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
He said, "Since its founding, the Jo Guk Innovation Party has faced criticism and ridicule, but it is a solid party that has endured all of it," and "We will move forward with firm steps, staying true to our original intentions and aspirations." Then, he stated, "Jo Guk is temporarily leaving your side," and "I will return as a stronger and clearer person." At Jo's remarks, Hwang Unha, floor leader, and lawmakers Kim Seonmin and Kim Jaewon, who attended the press conference, were moved to tears.
There was analysis that Jo losing his parliamentary seat could become a variable in the processing of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol scheduled for the 14th, but the Jo Guk Innovation Party stated that they will proceed smoothly through the acting party leader and proportional representation succession procedures. The acting party leader will be Kim Seonmin, who ranked first in the recent supreme council member election. The proportional representation seat will be succeeded by Baek Seonhee, a professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Seoul Theological University, who ran as the 13th candidate on the Jo Guk Innovation Party's proportional representation list.
Regarding questions about the proportional representation succession procedure, Jo said, "There is a process that goes through the courts, the National Assembly, and the Central Election Commission (CEC)," adding, "We have requested that it be done quickly, but we do not know how fast it will proceed." A CEC official told Asia Economy, "When a vacancy notification is received, it is usually processed within a day or two, but since this is an important matter, it will proceed quickly," and added, "We have already received the vacancy notification."
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