Jo Gap Je Says "Choi Soon Sil Must Be Pardoned... Main Culprit Park Geun Hye Already Pardoned"

Jo Gap Je Calls for Pardon of Key State Affairs Scandal Figure Choi Seo Won
"We Need to Move On... Cho Kuk Hasn't Even Served a Year Yet"
Topic Raised During President Lee's Luncheon Last Month

Jo Gap Je, a conservative commentator known to be close to President Lee Jae Myung and former CEO of Monthly Chosun (currently CEO of Jogapje.com), argued that "Choi Soon Sil (now Choi Seo Won) is someone who must be pardoned" in the upcoming August 15 Liberation Day special pardon. On the 6th, during an interview on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun Jung's News Show," Jo said, "It's not so much for the sake of unity, but rather that it's time to put that memory behind us. What good does it do to keep holding on to that memory for so long?" He added, "People would probably be surprised to know that she (Choi) is still in prison."

Choi Seo-won, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined 18 billion won at the first trial in January 2018, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Asia Economy

When the host asked, "Wouldn't there be a significant number of people opposed to pardoning Choi?" Jo responded, "Who is actually the main culprit of that case (the state affairs manipulation scandal)? Former President Park Geun Hye has already been pardoned and reinstated, and all those connected to her have also been pardoned. Only one person remains, and no one is looking out for her. Legally, all the main offenders have been pardoned, but she has been in prison for nine years now."

However, when asked, "Are you suggesting that both Choi and former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Cho Kuk, should be pardoned?" he replied, "Former leader Cho's (prison term) is too short. It hasn't even been a year yet," adding, "It doesn't balance with Choi's pardon. Both from a human and legal perspective, they are separate issues."

President Lee Jae Myung is taking a commemorative photo before a luncheon with journalists at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 11th of last month. From the left, Jeong Kyu Jae, former chief editor of Korea Economic Daily, President Lee, Jo Gap Je, CEO of Jogapje.com, and Lee Kyu Yeon, chief of public relations and communication at the Presidential Office. Presidential Office

Previously, Jo and Jeong Kyu Jae, former chief editor of Korea Economic Daily, had lunch with President Lee at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 11th of last month. It was reported that Jeong, who was also present at the time, suggested Choi's pardon to the president. In an interview on Channel A Radio's "Political Signal" on the 15th of last month, Jeong said, "When I recommended Choi's pardon, the president was surprised and said, 'Is that so?' and listened attentively," adding, "It wasn't that the president said he would do anything in particular, but rather he reacted like, 'Has it already been (10 years)?' Something along those lines."

Choi was identified as a key figure in the Park Geun Hye administration's state affairs manipulation scandal and was first arrested on November 3, 2016. In June 2020, she was sentenced to 18 years in prison, fined 20 billion won, and ordered to forfeit approximately 6.3 billion won on charges including abuse of authority, violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (bribery), and obstruction of business. Her sentence was finalized. Choi's original scheduled release date was October 31, 2037, but due to three suspensions of sentence execution for surgeries and other reasons, her term has been extended by 14 weeks, and her new release date is now known to be February 8, 2038.

Former President Park Geun Hye, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the state affairs manipulation scandal and related charges, was released on December 31, 2021, through a New Year's special pardon by former President Moon Jae In. This came four years and nine months after her arrest on March 31, 2017. At the time, former President Moon stated, "I hope this pardon will serve as an opportunity for integration, harmony, and the opening of a new era, beyond differences in opinion or opposition," and added, "We must overcome the pain of the past and move toward a new era."