Money Today Publishes Written Interview with Cho Kuk from Prison
Cho Kuk: "I Am Enduring the Verdict, but My Disappointment Is Real"
"He Must Implement Reform Measures Early in His Presidency"
Former Cho Kuk Innovation Party leader Cho Kuk commented on the possibility of a pardon and reinstatement, stating, "It would be premature and inappropriate for me to speak on this matter while I am still serving my sentence," and added, "If the public believes I still have a role to play, they will give me one." On July 2, Money Today published a written interview with Cho conducted while he was incarcerated. Cho, who was sentenced to two years in prison for charges related to his children's college admissions and for covering up a Blue House inspection, has been held at Seoul Southern Detention Center in Guro-gu, Seoul since December of last year.
In September of last year, Lee Jae Myung, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, paid a visit to Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun Min
According to Money Today, in a written response dated June 29, Cho stated, "The Constitution grants the authority to politically and legally correct certain criminal cases after they have concluded only to the president, who holds the greatest democratic legitimacy as an elected official."
Regarding Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Jie Won, who described him as a "victim of a prosecutorial massacre" and called for his pardon, Cho said, "In March of last year, Lee In Yo Han, then the election campaign chief for the People Power Party's Future Committee, criticized the investigation into Kim Keon Hee, saying, 'Even the mafia does not target children and wives.' This remark should have been directed at Yoon Suk Yeol, who led the investigation against me."
Cho also said, "I would like to mention that, back in 2019, there was criticism of the investigation as an 'Indian rainmaking investigation' and an 'ultrafine dust sweep investigation.' While I have accepted and endured the court's verdict, it is true that I was greatly disappointed because neither my explanations nor my defense counsel's arguments were accepted at all. Even before any legal judgment, I was already branded as guilty in the eyes of society."
Recently, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party has been critical of the government's personnel appointments within the prosecution. On July 2, the party stated, "We question whether these appointments are truly those of the Lee Jae Myung administration, which was launched in defiance of the Yoon Suk Yeol insurrectionist forces," and added, "Senior prosecutorial appointments should be reconsidered."
Regarding prosecutorial reform under the Lee Jae Myung administration, Cho said, "The Moon Jae In administration achieved the de-prosecutorialization of the Ministry of Justice, the adjustment of investigative powers between the prosecution and the police, and the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). However, the separation of investigative and prosecutorial powers was impossible at the time due to the composition of the National Assembly, and the police were not yet fully prepared. Since the Lee Jae Myung administration now has a sufficient number of seats in the National Assembly and public consensus has been formed, the separation of investigation and prosecution should be implemented swiftly."
He went on to say, "Political prosecutors who have abused prosecutorial power must be held accountable. This is to prevent a recurrence of prosecutorial dictatorship. The Ministry of Justice, which has once again been captured by the prosecution under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, must also be normalized. If this is not achieved, the prosecution will once again wield its power when the administration weakens."
Regarding President Lee, he said, "It is right and proper to govern in a way that encompasses both moderates and conservatives. However, under the single five-year presidential term system, reform measures must be implemented early on. Decisive reforms should be carried out while public approval ratings are high."
Cho stated, "I will soon complete one-third of my sentence," and added, "I am studying and reflecting on ways to achieve the complete end of insurrection, eradicate prosecutorial dictatorship, address the hardships people face in jobs, housing, and care, and find solutions for the revival of the manufacturing sector, which is facing domestic and international crises."
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