First Meeting After Liberation Day Pardon
Moon Urges, "Open a Path Even Where There Is None"
Jo Guk Vows to Be a Left-Handed Pitcher for the Success of the Lee Jaemyung Administration
Jo Guk, Chairman of the Innovation Policy Research Committee of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, visited Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam on August 24 to pay a courtesy call on former President Moon Jaein. This was the first meeting between the two since the special Liberation Day pardon.
According to Yoon Jaegwan, chief spokesperson for the Jo Guk Innovation Party, former President Moon said at the meeting, "I was deeply grateful for the camaraderie you showed by standing with me through difficult times. I believed a day like today would come, but now that it has actually arrived, I am truly delighted."
Former President Moon Jaein, First Lady Kim Jungsook, and Jo Guk, Innovation Policy Research Committee Chair of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, are greeting each other after a commemorative photo at Former President Moon's private residence in Pyeongsan Village, Habuk-myeon, Yangsan City, Gyeongnam, on the afternoon of the 24th. Jo is on the right of Former President Moon. Photo by Yonhap News
Former President Moon continued, "What lies ahead is even more important. There may be further challenges, but I hope you will not lose your original intention and continue to steadfastly forge a path forward. Please carry on the determination that led to the founding of the Jo Guk Innovation Party under the slogan 'Three years is too long,' and work to make Korean democracy deeper, stronger, and broader."
Chairman Jo responded, "I will take your words to heart," according to chief spokesperson Yoon. It was reported that political issues such as a possible merger between the Democratic Party and the Jo Guk Innovation Party or next year's local elections were not discussed at the meeting.
The two watched the film "Meeting Again, Cho Guk" at Megabox Yangsan. According to the Jo Guk Innovation Party, former President Moon agreed to watch the movie together because he sympathized with its theme, which highlights the issue of prosecutorial abuse of power during the Moon Jaein administration.
Former President Moon Jaein and his wife, along with Cho Guk, chairman of the Innovation Policy Research Committee of the Cho Guk Innovation Party, sat in the audience on the afternoon of the 24th at Megabox Yangsan Jeungsan Branch in Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan City, Gyeongnam, before watching the movie "Meeting Again, Cho Guk." From the second seat on the left are Choi Kangkuk, head of the Democratic Party Education Training Institute, Chairman Cho Guk, former President Moon Jaein, and Mrs. Kim Jungsook. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier that morning, Chairman Jo paid his respects at Busan Democracy Park, where he had declared the party's founding last year. After the visit, he told reporters, "I came to Busan to rekindle the original spirit I had at the time of the party's founding. Whether it is myself or the party, we will act with the same resolve as at the time of our founding to address the tasks our society demands."
He added, "I will also work for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration," and assessed, "The fact that the Lee Jaemyung administration has established itself as a centrist-conservative party is a wise policy." He went on to emphasize, "Since the progressive camp is vacant, I will take on the role of a left-handed pitcher."
In particular, he stated, "In the political arena, I will act as a left-handed pitcher and, together with outstanding right-handed colleagues, will ensure that the far-right People Power Party is dismantled. We will defeat the far-right party in the 2026 local elections and the 2028 National Assembly elections, and achieve success for the Lee Jaemyung administration."
When asked about the phenomenon of far-right tendencies among men in their 20s and 30s, he replied, "For some, it is indeed a shift to the far right. Discontent has accumulated over issues such as jobs, tuition, employment, and housing, and it is the duty of politicians to address these problems."
Regarding observations that he has been highly active since the special pardon, he said, "I consider all such comments to be sincere advice for my benefit, and I accept them with gratitude. As one of the key figures in the party's founding, it is necessary to fill the gap during this period. I will continue on my path."
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