Extraordinary Single-Agenda Cabinet Meeting Convened
Choi Kangwook, Yoon Meehyang, Cho Heeyeon Among Those Included
On August 11, President Lee Jaemyung will convene an extraordinary, single-agenda Cabinet meeting to finalize the list of those to be granted special pardons for the August 15 Liberation Day, including former Cho Kuk Innovation Party leader Cho Kuk and other politicians. Given the ongoing political controversy, this move is seen as an attempt to settle the debate by confirming the list as quickly as possible.
President Lee will hold the 35th extraordinary Cabinet meeting in the afternoon to exclusively review and approve the agenda of "special pardons, special commutations, special reinstatements, and special reduction measures." An official from the presidential office explained, "There are many items to be discussed at the regular Cabinet meeting, and President Lee is also scheduled to receive a report from the Ministry of Employment and Labor regarding industrial accidents, so the agendas have been separated." Similar extraordinary meetings were held for the New Year's special pardons at the end of 2021 under the Moon Jaein administration, as well as for the New Year's and Liberation Day special pardons in 2022 and 2023 under the Yoon Sukyeol administration.
Previously, on August 7, the Ministry of Justice's pardon review committee reportedly included former leader Cho Kuk and his spouse, former lawmakers Choi Kangwook and Yoon Meehyang, former Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education superintendent Cho Heeyeon, as well as conservative politicians such as former lawmakers Hong Moonjong and Jung Chanmin, on the list. If former leader Cho Kuk is both pardoned and reinstated this time, he will be able to resume his political activities and, in particular, become eligible to run in the local elections in June next year and the next presidential election.
The opposition has criticized the move as "favoritism" and "undermining judicial justice." However, some within the ruling bloc view the pardons and reinstatements of figures like Cho Kuk as symbolic for securing momentum for prosecutorial reform.
If the Liberation Day special pardon for former leader Cho Kuk is confirmed, the local elections in June next year are expected to be his first stage for a political comeback. Some speculate that he may run for mayor of Seoul or Busan.
Expectations are also rising within the Cho Kuk Innovation Party. On the morning of August 11, after the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, acting party leader Kim Sunmin responded to reporters' questions about the pardons by saying, "We will wait calmly." Jeong Chunsaeng, the party’s policy committee chair, told Asia Economy in a phone call, "Given the current trend, the pardon seems likely, but we are watching the situation closely," refraining from further comment.
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