Disclosure of Cho Kuk's Prison Letter: "Eating Well and Exercising Well"

Choi Kang-wook "We Will Meet Soon"

A letter sent by former leader of the Joguk Innovation Party, Cho Kuk, who was sentenced to two years in prison and incarcerated for his involvement in his children's admission corruption and the White House inspection cover-up, to former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook, who served as the Public Office Discipline Secretary at the Moon Jae-in administration's Blue House, has been made public.

On the 28th, former lawmaker Choi shared the contents of the letter from Cho Kuk along with a photo of the envelope of the prison letter on his social networking service (SNS). The envelope revealed by former lawmaker Choi was labeled "Gyeonggi-do Gunpo-si Gunpo Post Office P.O. Box 20, From Cho Kuk." Former lawmaker Choi conveyed, "Cho Kuk feels very frustrated when he hears news from outside, but he has adapted well to life in the detention center," adding, "He is eating well and exercising well." He further emphasized, "We will meet soon," and said, "We will lock all the beasts behind bars and he will come out."

A letter sent from former leader of the Innovation Party, Cho Kuk, to former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Choi Kang-wook while in prison. Screenshot from former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Choi Kang-wook's Facebook.

Earlier, on the 12th, the Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Eom Sang-pil) upheld the original sentence of two years imprisonment and a fine of 6 million won against Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including forgery and use of false documents, obstruction of business, and violation of the Anti-Graft Act. Cho Kuk was incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center on the 16th. His scheduled release date is December 15, 2026. However, the release date may be moved up if a pardon or other measures are taken. Even after completing his sentence, Cho Kuk will be barred from running for office for five years. To run in the 23rd general election in April 2028, he must be reinstated.

Additionally, former lawmaker Choi was indicted for issuing a false internship certificate to Cho Kuk’s son, thereby obstructing the work of graduate school admissions officers, and in September last year, the Supreme Court confirmed an eight-month prison sentence with a two-year probation, resulting in the loss of his parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, on the 23rd, the Joguk Innovation Party released the contents of Cho Kuk’s first prison letter. In the letter, Cho Kuk strongly criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol, calling him "a monster who always uses power extremely to maintain and strengthen his own authority." He added, "The December 3 emergency martial law incident revealed the true face of Yoon Suk-yeol to the people," and said, "We had been hosting as president a person who uses state power like an absolute monarch with the perception level of an extreme right-wing YouTuber." Cho Kuk concluded by saying, "Much has been achieved, but there is still much left undone. I ask the people to accomplish the remaining tasks."