Cho Kuk States He Will Seek Political Judgment, Not a Retrial
Kim Jonghyuk: "He Should Naturally File for Retrial and Be Acquitted"
Han Donghoon: "This Is Not a Pardon but Virtually a Jailbreak"
As Cho Kuk, the former leader of the National Innovation Party, who was granted a special pardon and reinstatement on Liberation Day, has announced his candidacy for next year's election, Kim Jonghyuk, former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, criticized him by saying, "I have a request for Cho Kuk. Can't he just honestly apologize and atone for his actions?" On the 18th, Kim posted on social media, "Regarding the dreams and hopes of ordinary young people, often referred to as 'crayfish, crucian carp, and frog youth' (a term for ordinary citizens), which were suddenly shattered; regarding the progressive values he damaged; and regarding 'Naeronambul'-now a common noun and even introduced abroad as a byword for hypocrisy, meaning 'romance when I do it, adultery when others do it.'"
Kim continued, "Cho Kuk said in an interview that he would prove the effectiveness of his pardon. Prove its effectiveness? Is the plummeting approval ratings of President Lee Jaemyung and the Democratic Party not sufficient proof?" he remarked sarcastically.
He added, "If he and his wife were unjustly imprisoned, shouldn't they naturally file for a retrial under the Lee Jaemyung administration, where there's no risk of disadvantage, and be acquitted? He even claims there is new evidence. Wouldn't that restore his honor and result in considerable financial compensation? Even though reporters have asked multiple times, he keeps dodging the question-what is the reason for refusing?"
He went on to say, "I don't know what further 'effectiveness' he intends to show. In fact, I'm concerned about the kind of 'effectiveness' he might demonstrate," and added, "I hope it does not mean turning Korean politics into chaos led by far-left and far-right agitators."
Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party and a past rival of Cho Kuk, also commented on social media that day, stating, "Cho Kuk's situation is not a pardon but virtually a jailbreak," and insisted, "If he is innocent, he should file for a retrial." Han said, "According to Cho Kuk's logic, the person who was transferred four times, whose home was raided twice, and who was slandered with fake news about tracking Yoo Simin's bank accounts, is not Han Donghoon, but rather the Korean courts that convicted Cho Kuk at all three levels of trial and sent him to prison." In other words, by his logic, responsibility should lie with the courts that found him guilty, not the prosecutors who investigated him.
Former Cho Kuk, former leader of the National Innovation Party, is paying respects at the grave of former President Kim Daejung at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
However, Cho Kuk had previously stated that he would not apply for a retrial. In an interview with Hankyoreh on the 15th, when asked, "Some of your supporters believe a retrial is necessary," he replied, "I don't want to go back to the past. As for my wife, I don't know what she will do, but if I pursue a retrial, I would have to devote my energy to it again, and I don't want that."
On the same day, during an interview on the YouTube channel 'Kim Eojun's News Factory: Humility Is Difficult,' Cho Kuk said, "In any case, it is clear that I will seek the people's choice in June next year," expressing his intention to run in either the local elections or a parliamentary by-election next year. He added, "I haven't decided where I will run yet, but I must present my views to the public, including the criticisms directed at me, and seek their political decision. Legally, the matter is settled, but I want to be judged again through political choice."
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