Park Jihyun Dismisses Cho Kuk's Explanation on Kang Mijeong's Departure: "Self-Justification, Not an Apology to Victims"

Park Ji-hyun Criticizes Cho Kuk's Statement
Calls Response "Self-Justification," Not an Apology
Urges Concrete Actions for Victims and Prevention

Kang Mijeong, spokesperson for the Party for National Innovation, is holding a press conference to announce her resignation related to allegations of sexual misconduct within the party at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

Former Democratic Party of Korea emergency committee co-chair Park Ji-hyun dismissed Jokook Innovation Party Innovation Institute Director Cho Kuk's response to spokesperson Kang Mijeong's announcement that she would leave the party over the handling of a sexual misconduct case, calling it "self-justification" on the 4th.

On this day, Park wrote on her social media, "Cho Kuk’s statement is closer to self-justification than an apology to the victim." She continued, "Saying 'I couldn't do anything because I was not a party member' is not the explanation the public wants to hear," and added, "No one believes that former Chairman Cho Kuk was unable to do anything simply because he was not a party member."

JiHyun Park, former co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Asia Economy Database

Earlier, Cho Kuk wrote on his social media, "I feel extremely heavy-hearted and pained by spokesperson Kang Mijeong's announcement of her resignation. I offer my deepest condolences to the victims who have been deeply hurt." He explained, "I thought the matter had been resolved after hearing that the perpetrator had been expelled from the party following an internal investigation." He also stated, "At the time, I was not a party member due to my expulsion, so I had no role to play in the party's official procedures," and added, "As a non-member, I believed that intervening in these procedures would undermine the party's system and due process."

Jokook, Chairman of the Innovation Committee of the Jokook Innovation Party. Jokook Facebook

Park criticized Cho Kuk’s statement as abstract, pointing out that the victims’ suffering is concrete. She said, "A responsible politician should respond with practical measures, not emotional regret," and emphasized, "If you truly feel responsible, you should personally lead concrete actions for victim recovery and prevention of recurrence." Park further added, "An apology is not an excuse but a responsibility. The weight of a politician comes from that responsibility."