Schedule in Gwangju, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla from August 26 to 28
"Need to Set Political Reform and Anti-Discrimination Law as Key Agendas"
Cho Kuk, head of the Cho Kuk Innovation Policy Research Institute of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, stated on the 25th in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province, after paying respects at the grave of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, "The schedule in the Honam region starting tomorrow is not for election purposes."
After the visit, Cho met with reporters and explained, "Some view this as an action with the local elections in mind, but that is not the case," adding, "It is about fulfilling my duty as a human being."
Cho Kuk, head of the National Innovation Party's National Innovation Policy Research Institute, is answering questions from reporters after paying respects at the grave of former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Jinyeong-eup, Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province on the morning of the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News
From August 26 to 28, Cho will continue his schedule in the Honam region, covering Gwangju, South Jeolla, and North Jeolla Provinces. On the first day, the 26th, he will pay his respects at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju in the morning, then visit the Gwangju Archdiocese of the Catholic Church to meet Archbishop Ok Hyunjin. Archbishop Ok previously submitted a petition for Cho's pardon and reinstatement. In the afternoon, Cho will meet writer Hwang Kwangwoo at Jeonil Building in Gwangju. Hwang is a founding member of the Democratic Labor Party and a poet, who has advocated for Cho's pardon through columns and contributions.
On the 27th, Cho will visit the Catholic cemetery in Damyang to pay respects at the grave of the late Choi Hongyeop, co-chair of the Gwangju Environmental Movement Union, who was his college classmate and longtime friend. He will then have tea with Jeong Cheolwon, the head of Damyang County and the first local government head from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, at Damyang County Office. In the afternoon, he will visit Book Village Haeri in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, and in the evening, he will attend a roundtable titled "What's Wrong with the Region?" with cultural planners at Kkotshim Cafe in Jeonju.
On the final day, the 28th, Cho will visit the Won-Buddhism Central Headquarters in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, to meet Chief Administrator Na Sangho, and in the evening, he will conclude his schedule by holding a roundtable titled "Can You Really Hear Us?" with young people in Iksan.
Some within the ruling party interpret these activities as being conscious of next year's local elections. In response, Cho repeatedly clarified, "I am not trying to campaign for the elections."
Regarding his relationship with the Democratic Party, Cho said, "We need to create a political landscape where normal progressives and normal conservatives compete and cooperate," adding, "Instead of blindly merging or splitting, the far-right People Power Party should be reduced to less than half, and the remaining half should be shared by the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party."
He also stated, "As legislative reforms regarding the prosecution, judiciary, and broadcasting are underway, it is necessary to set political reform tasks," mentioning as key issues the response to the climate crisis, guaranteeing proportional representation for votes, and enacting anti-discrimination laws. Cho emphasized, "Politics must ask questions and find answers."
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