Cho Kuk "If Kukhim Regains Power, Yoon Will Be Released... The Forces That Made the President Remain the Same"

Emphasizing Opposition Unity and Consolidation
"Presidential Election Will Be a 51 to 49 Battle"

Former leader of the Joguk Innovation Party, Cho Guk, urged the opposition forces to unite and consolidate repeatedly through a letter from prison, stating, "If the People Power Party regains power, Yoon Seok-yeol will be released."

Former Cho Kuk, former leader of the Innovation Party, who was sentenced to 2 years in prison for charges including admission bribery for his children and covering up the Blue House inspection, is seen clenching his fist toward supporters before being incarcerated. Photo by Yonhap News

In the letter released on the 14th, former leader Cho wrote, "If the emergency martial law on December 3 had succeeded, not only members of the National Assembly including myself but also journalists and religious figures would have been 'collected' and forced to confess to 'anti-state activities,' and cabinet members would have been holding press conferences emphasizing the necessity of martial law." He expressed concern that even as the impeachment trial was nearing its end, "the forces that made Yoon Seok-yeol president remain unchanged."

He stated, "President Yoon Seok-yeol presented a strange sophistry called 'warning martial law' at the Constitutional Court and showed the cowardly behavior of shifting responsibility to subordinates." He added, "After the December 3 emergency martial law, most cabinet members distanced themselves from Yoon Seok-yeol, the prosecution, which proudly called Yoon the 'president of the organization,' indicted him, and conservative media outlets that led the effort to make Yoon president are now criticizing him."

He continued, "Thanks to the great determination and actions of the people, the terrible situation did not materialize, but the forces that have not changed at all and have not reflected at all still exist." He pointed out, "Even if Yoon Seok-yeol is impeached, the forces that made him president and seized power remain the same." He claimed, "If they regain power, Yoon Seok-yeol will be granted a special pardon, released, and will roam around with the title of former president," urging, "The sovereign people and the opposition parties must stay alert."

Recalling past presidential elections lost due to failure to present strong unified candidates, he said, "In 1987, due to the failure of unification between YS and DJ, Roh Tae-woo became president; in 2012, due to the lack of synergy in the unification between Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo, Park Geun-hye became president; and in 2022, due to the failure of unification between Lee Jae-myung and Sim Sang-jung, Yoon Seok-yeol became president." He warned, "When the actual presidential election is decided, the consolidation phenomenon will accelerate, and ultimately it will be a 51 to 49 battle."

He also said, "The forces opposing the December 3 rebellion and pursuing the restoration of democratic constitutional order must unite to isolate the forces that supported or abetted the rebellion. I hope that progressive parties such as the Joguk Innovation Party and the Democratic Party, as well as conservative reform parties, can work together." He repeatedly emphasized, "'Coalition' is the path to victory." He added, "Coalition politics will form a 'new majority,' open Korea 2.0, and also be able to take responsibility."