"At Last, the Civil Affairs Office Can Truly Smile"
"Gratitude to President Lee as Well"
From the left, Baek Wonwoo, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, and Cho Kuk, former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, are celebrating a 60th birthday party at the residence of former President Moon Jaein, located in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, on the 24th. Photo by Hwang Hyunseon Facebook
Former President Moon Jaein hosted a modest 60th birthday celebration for Baek Wonwoo, former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, and Cho Kuk, former leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party. This belated celebration was held for the two, who had marked their 60th birthdays while incarcerated at Seoul Southern Detention Center.
On the afternoon of the 24th, at his residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, former President Moon met with Cho Kuk and Baek Wonwoo, congratulated them on their pardons and reinstatements, and presented them with a birthday cake inscribed with the message, "Cho Kuk & Baek Wonwoo, Blessings for a New Beginning."
The event was also attended by officials from the Innovation Party, as well as Choi Kangwook, head of the Education Training Institute of the Democratic Party, who had worked alongside Cho Kuk in the Blue House's Civil Affairs Office during the Moon administration. Choi offered his congratulations and applause.
Hwang Hyunseon, Secretary-General of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, also shared a post on his Facebook page titled "A Very Special 60th Birthday Party," writing, "Since 2019, the Civil Affairs Office had not been able to laugh freely. Only today did we finally laugh heartily." He added, "Today, President Moon Jaein must have also felt a great burden lifted from his shoulders."
He went on to say, "I also want to thank President Lee Jaemyung for making it possible for all the comrades from the Civil Affairs Office to gather together."
Meanwhile, Cho Kuk was released on August 15 at midnight, following a Liberation Day pardon, after being sentenced to two years in prison last December 16 on charges including academic fraud related to his children. Baek Wonwoo was sentenced to 10 months in prison on December 13 last year for intervening in the Blue House's special inspection of Yoo Jaesoo, former Vice Mayor of Busan, and was also released as part of the Liberation Day special pardon.
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