"I Feel a Greater Sense of Relief"
Cho Hee-yeon, former Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, who was included in the list of special pardons for Liberation Day, expressed his gratitude, saying, "I would like to thank President Lee Jae-myung and the new administration for granting me this pardon and reinstatement of rights."
On August 11, Cho wrote on Facebook, "I am grateful to everyone who supported me and treated my pardon and reinstatement as if it were their own matter."
Cho went on to say, "Even until now, except for the right to run for office, there were no restrictions on my activities as a citizen and member of the public," but added, "Nevertheless, it is true that this pardon and reinstatement allows me to feel a greater sense of relief."
He stated, "Now, as a free person both physically and mentally, I will focus on writing articles and books to share wisdom for the future-oriented development of our society and education."
In October to December 2018, Cho was indicted on charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights for allegedly abusing his personnel authority to appoint five dismissed teachers and others, instructing officials such as superintendents to conduct a special hiring process disguised as an open competition. Last year, the Supreme Court finalized a sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for two years, resulting in his loss of office as superintendent.
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