Met Former Cho Kuk Innovation Party Leader Cho Kuk and Posted on Facebook
"His Characteristic Smile Remains Unchanged... Makes Others Feel Indebted to Him Emotionally"
On July 29, Ko posted on her Facebook account, "I just visited former leader Cho. His characteristic smile remains unchanged."
She wrote, "Even though he is always in a more difficult situation than I am, I am always the one who receives comfort from him. One might expect him to harbor a lot of anger and hostility toward the world, but instead, he is filled with positive energy." She continued, "Perhaps that's why he keeps making me reflect on myself," and described Cho as someone who makes others feel indebted to him emotionally.
Ko explained that the reason many people hope for Cho's pardon is "because, through him, each of us is reflecting on ourselves." She added, "Through Cho Kuk's pardon, those of us who called for prosecutorial reform want to confirm that we were not wrong," while also noting, "It is clear that the president's power to grant a pardon remains unknowable until the very end." She went on to say, "There are countless speculative articles and statements from related parties, but even for the president, the decision to grant a pardon is difficult until the very last moment."
Ko further stated that she wants to reaffirm that the prosecutorial reform we all called for together last winter, during what felt like a time of hardship, was not mistaken, and that, even though we may have different opinions, everyone stood together under the banner of unity and solidarity.
With just over two weeks left until Liberation Day, calls for a special pardon and reinstatement for former leader Cho are growing within the ruling bloc. Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, also wrote on Facebook that day, "Former leader Cho suffered pain almost tantamount to the destruction of his family at the hands of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," and argued, "It was an excessively harsh and severe punishment, both by common sense and by law." He added, "Now it is time for him to return to his family and the people," and said, "We should give former leader Cho Kuk an opportunity to contribute to a new Republic of Korea."
Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Deukgu stated on Facebook on July 26, "We are certainly indebted to former leader Cho for the end of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the birth of the Lee Jaemyung government," emphasizing, "He, who called for reform and criticized the dictator under a ruthless political prosecution regime, has more than enough reason to be pardoned."
Former leader Cho is currently serving a two-year prison sentence confirmed by the Supreme Court for charges related to his child's university admissions scandal and the Blue House's alleged intervention in an inspection case. He is scheduled to be released on December 15 next year.
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