Jokuk Party Founding Member Kang Misook: "Cho's Attitude Toward Sexual Misconduct Is Deeply Disappointing"

"Cho, Prioritizing Local Affairs Over Victims"

"Does the Jokuk Innovation Party truly want a game of truth? Do they really want to fight against Kang Mijeong, the victims, and myself, who represented them?"

Kang Misook, Advisor to the Women's Committee and former Co-Chair of the Jokuk Innovation Party's Founding Preparatory Committee, criticized the party and former leader Cho for their deeply disappointing response to the sexual misconduct case.

Jokuk Innovation Party Jokuk Innovation Policy Institute Director is holding a party member meeting at Chaekmaeul Haeri, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk on August 27. Photo by Yonhap News

On September 5, Kang, who represents the victims of sexual misconduct, posted a lengthy message on social media, stating, "As someone who represented four victims, I wish to clarify my position."

In her post, Kang explained, "Since last April, I have served as the representative for four victims, including former spokesperson Kang Mijeong, and have been communicating with the party. After much difficulty, disciplinary action for two sexual misconduct cases was concluded on June 25, and for a workplace harassment case on July 8."

She continued, "In the case of a victim who was reported for assisting with the investigation, the party split the matter into two and only handled one, showing no intention of resolving the other. On July 14, I notified them of my resignation as representative, and on July 17, I sent a lengthy letter to former leader Cho, reporting on the overall situation."

She added, "After Cho was pardoned, I waited for him to complete his official schedule and, on August 21, requested a meeting between myself, spokesperson Kang Mijeong, and Cho. Cho replied, 'After finishing my regional schedule in early September, I plan to meet with spokesperson Kang Mijeong to offer my condolences.'"

"Cho, Prioritizing Local Affairs Over Victims"

Screenshot of Facebook post by Kang Misook, Advisor to the Women's Committee of the Party for National Innovation

In response, Kang said, "I was devastated to see that former leader Cho seemed to consider meeting with a victim in extreme distress less important than his regional schedule. It felt as though, for Cho, this was just a 'case' the party had closed according to procedure, and that the 'person' involved was a secondary concern."

Kang continued, "Many, including former leader Cho, have said, 'Cho was not a party member while in prison, so what could he have done?' and 'Even after his release, he is only the Director of the Innovation Policy Institute, so what authority does he have?' But whether one likes it or not, the Jokuk Innovation Party is Cho's party, and discussing party membership or authority is just a matter of formal logic."

She further questioned, "How can it be explained that a non-member, supposedly without authority, was accompanied by key party officials to pay respects at the National Cemetery and attend other such events? Why did party officials treat a non-member without authority in this way?"

Kang emphasized, "Politics is about moving people's hearts. We are talking about 'people' and 'feelings,' while the party is talking about laws (regulations) and procedures. Delayed justice is not justice," directly criticizing the party.

She also raised her voice against the party's response to the sexual misconduct case. Kang stated, "Immediately after spokesperson Kang Mijeong's press conference, the party, as if waiting for it, released a series of rebuttal statements and interviews. Does the Jokuk Innovation Party truly want a game of truth? Do they really want to fight against Kang Mijeong, the victims, and myself, who represented them?"

Previously, on September 5, the Jokuk Innovation Party held a press conference and officially apologized for "insufficiencies in the handling process" of the internal sexual misconduct case. After remaining silent on the issue, Cho, Director of the Innovation Policy Institute, finally expressed his "deep condolences to the victim" late the previous evening. Following this, the party, which had previously focused on refuting the claims made at the victim's press conference, belatedly issued an apology in an attempt to contain the situation.