Joguk Innovation Party Secretary General Hwang Hyunseon Posts on Facebook
"Applied for a special visit last week but was not approved"
Former leader of the Joguk Innovation Party, Jo Guk, celebrated his 60th birthday in prison on the 6th.
Hwang Hyun-seon, Secretary General of the Joguk Innovation Party, began a post on Facebook that morning by saying, "Today is former leader Jo Guk's 60th birthday. He has reached his hwangap (60th birthday)." Hwang added, "I applied for a special visit last week but was not approved," and said, "I couldn't even convey my congratulations to former leader Jo."
Former leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, Jo Guk, who was indicted on charges including admission bribery for his children and covering up Blue House inspections, and sentenced to 2 years in prison, is seen clenching his fist toward supporters before being incarcerated in front of Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province on December 16 last year. Photo by Yonhap News
Hwang also said, "Looking back, since 2019, I have never properly congratulated him." Jo Guk, who served as the Senior Secretary to the President for Civil Affairs under the Moon Jae-in administration in 2019, faced the so-called 'Jo Guk incident' after being nominated as Minister of Justice. He resigned 35 days after his nomination amid allegations of involvement in his children's admission fraud and the cover-up of Blue House inspections. In December last year, Jo was sentenced to two years in prison by the Supreme Court and is currently serving his sentence.
Hwang said, "From 2020, due to the imprisonment of Professor Jung Kyung-shim (Jo Guk's wife), even receiving congratulations became burdensome," adding, "There was nothing but a 'quiet meal' without a cake with candles." He also added, "In 2024, due to election campaigning, he spent his birthday traveling long distances from Daejeon to Cheongnyangni to Gangneung." He continued, "If I had known it would be like this, I would have made last year's birthday lively. I deeply regret it." He further said, "I wanted to give him big congratulations this year with party members for the impeachment of Yoon Seok-yeol and the party's first anniversary."
Hwang reflected, "I often think about what trials remain for former leader Jo, but I steel my heart recalling something he once said," and wrote the phrase attributed to Jo: "I do not know what trials await me. But I have never lived succumbing to fate." Finally, Hwang concluded, "No flower blooms without shaking. Spring does not come without winter," and said, "Waiting for the 'Spring of Joguk,' I leave my 60th birthday congratulations here (on Facebook)."
Earlier, on the 4th, when the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-yeol was accepted, Hwang revealed a letter Jo Guk had sent from prison in advance. In the letter, Jo stated, "Yoon Seok-yeol is no longer president. He is merely a major criminal who should be severely punished as a ringleader of rebellion," and raised his voice, saying, "He should also be investigated and punished for the Myungtaegyun Gate and the cover-up of the Marine Corps investigation." He further said, "The far-right fascist forces that stormed the Seoul Western District Court, slandered and threatened constitutional court judges, and incited the destruction of the Constitutional Court still remain. The conservative vested interests that made Yoon Seok-yeol a hero by conducting 'Indian rain dance-style investigations' to block prosecution reform and strengthen their own power also remain," emphasizing, "We must swiftly build a new majority coalition, achieve regime change with overwhelming momentum, and open the path for a new Republic of Korea."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
