Kim Jungjae: "Lee Jaemyung Has Fallen into the Cho Kuk Swamp"
Park Hyungsoo: "Only 30% of the Sentence Served"
The People Power Party strongly objected to the controversy surrounding the possible pardon of former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Cho Kuk.
On August 8, Song Eonseok, interim leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, addressed the issue during a party strategy meeting at the National Assembly. Referring to discussions about pardoning former leader Cho, his wife, former professor Chung Kyungshim, and former lawmaker Choi Kangwook, Song stated, "This is not simply a political deal, but the worst kind of political pardon, reflecting the distorted perception propagated by figures like Kim Eo-jun, who have brainwashed people into believing the Cho family is innocent," adding, "We strongly condemn it."
Kim Jungjae, policy chief of the People Power Party, also criticized, "President Lee Jaemyung has ultimately fallen into the swamp of Cho Kuk," and said, "He is being led by the Cho Kuk Innovation Party's presidential demands, such as the push for a special pardon for former leader Cho." Kim further stated, "Is it truly fair to pardon someone whose conviction for admissions fraud and obstruction of inspection has been finalized by the Supreme Court? The idea of repaying political debts with appointments and special pardons at the start of a new administration is extremely arrogant and dangerous."
Park Hyungsoo, People Power Party lawmaker and secretary of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said, "The Ministry of Justice's pardon review committee has included former leader Cho in the list of candidates for the Liberation Day special pardon." He added, "The admissions fraud committed by Cho and his wife involved forging various official and private documents for the private benefit of their own children, inflicting deep wounds on ordinary young people and parents across the country." Park pointed out, "Former leader Cho was only incarcerated in December last year. Having been sentenced to two years in prison, he has served only about 30% of his term so far," and insisted, "He should be excluded from this round of pardons."
Meanwhile, Kim Jungjae also proposed to the Democratic Party, "Let us completely reconsider the already fast-tracked Special Semiconductor Act, taking into account the current tariff wars, industrial realities, and voices from the field." He added, "Let us also restart bipartisan discussions on the flexible operation of the 52-hour workweek, a long-standing demand of the semiconductor industry."
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