Joguk Innovation Party Demands Pardon for Cho Kuk from Lee Administration
Hwang Unha: "Pardon for Cho Kuk After Election Is What the Public Expects"
Kim Sunmin: "Restoring Victims of Prosecutorial Abuse Is Key to Overcoming National Turmoil"
Calls for the pardon and reinstatement of former leader Cho Kuk by the Lee Jae-myung administration continue to be raised, particularly by the Joguk Innovation Party. On June 12, Hwang Unha, a member of the Joguk Innovation Party, stated in an interview with YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Jeongmyeonseungbu,' "Since former leader Cho is a representative scapegoat of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, it is only natural to pardon and reinstate him."
When asked by the host whether he believes former leader Cho will be pardoned, Hwang replied, "I am truly grateful that senior Democratic Party members Park Ji-won and Jeong Seongho have clearly articulated the need for Cho's pardon." However, he added, "Some within the Democratic Party argue that it is not appropriate to mention a pardon early in the administration, and while I understand that perspective, during the presidential campaign, what I heard from voters was, 'If candidate Lee Jae-myung is elected, former leader Cho will soon be pardoned and reinstated.' This reflects the general expectations of the public."
Hwang continued, "(Former leader Cho) was sentenced to a disproportionately heavy sentence and is currently serving time, his spouse also received a heavy sentence and has nearly completed her term, and both his son and daughter have suffered significant harm. Because the penalties imposed were excessively harsh, there should be a restoration. The essence of the matter is whether this was an abuse of prosecutorial power." He went on, "Of course, final court rulings must be respected. However, the prosecution, which holds the authority to investigate and indict, engaged in targeted investigations and abused its power. We cannot always assume that final court rulings fully consider all factors and always deliver verdicts that best align with the public’s legal sensibilities."
He said, "The presidential pardon exists to correct such issues after the fact. In reality, Yoon Suk-yeol's rise to power began with the targeted investigation of then-Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and the pursuit of the Cho family. From that point, the Yoon Suk-yeol presidential project was set in motion, and his soft coup began. Thus, Yoon Suk-yeol, who rose to power by overcoming the damage caused by prosecutorial abuse that started with the pursuit of the Cho family, was ultimately impeached in less than three years after taking office."
When the host asked whether there was any logical contradiction in describing the situation as both 'excessive' and 'harmful,' Hwang responded, "The harm resulted from the abuse of prosecutorial power," and "the sentencing was excessively severe compared to general legal sensibilities."
Kookmin Innovation Party leader Kim Sunmin and acting chairman Kwon Haengdae are meeting Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office, who visited the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News
Previously, Kim Sunmin, acting leader of the Joguk Innovation Party, said in an interview with KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa,' "The fact that former leader Cho received a two-year sentence and his wife, former professor Jeong Kyungshim, received a four-year sentence is known to the entire nation as a case of political elimination and abuse of prosecutorial power, making Cho a victim of the prosecution." He added, "Restoring the honor of those harmed by prosecutorial abuse and returning their lives to normal is a crucial task for ending the national turmoil." It was also reported that during a meeting with Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs of the Presidential Office, on June 11, the issue of pardoning former leader Cho was discussed.
Joo Jinwoo, legal advisory chairman of the People Power Party, stated on June 10, "Whether or not Cho Kuk is pardoned will serve as a barometer of 'fairness' for the Lee Jae-myung administration," and added, "If the Joguk Innovation Party colluded with the administration through a special pardon for Cho Kuk, this would essentially amount to 'candidate bribery.'"
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