Cho Kuk Steps Up Early... Leadership Put to the Test

Plan to Nominate Cho as Emergency Committee Chairperson at Party Affairs Committee Meeting on September 11

Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is expected to be appointed as the chairperson of the emergency response committee, which was formed to address the party's internal turmoil caused by a sexual misconduct incident.

Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Policy Research Institute of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

According to political sources on September 10, the Innovation Party plans to hold a party affairs committee meeting on September 11 and nominate Cho as the emergency committee chairperson.

Previously, the Innovation Party held three general assembly meetings of its lawmakers from September 7, when the party leadership resigned en masse, until the previous day, deliberating over the selection of the emergency committee chairperson. It was only during the general assembly on the afternoon of the previous day that Cho was confirmed as the sole nominee.

Seo Wangjin, floor leader of the Innovation Party, told reporters after the general assembly, "There were opinions that if Cho steps up at this time, he could face a number of difficulties, but the majority view was that, as the party's leader, it is his fundamental role to guide the party through challenging situations."

Initially, Cho's return to politics was expected to take place in November through the party convention, where a new party leader would be elected. However, due to the sudden resignation of the party leadership amid the sexual misconduct scandal, Cho has now been tasked with revitalizing the party and resolving internal conflicts. With his return coming earlier than expected, Cho, who is considered a potential presidential contender within the ruling bloc, will have his leadership put to the test.

The Innovation Party is experiencing severe turmoil due to the sexual misconduct incident, with not only the party leadership but also key party officials resigning one after another. After being nominated as emergency committee chairperson, Cho is expected to focus more on resolving internal strife rather than expanding the party's external reach for about two months until the party convention.

Cho is also expected to face a difficult road ahead. Kang Misook, advisor to the party's women's committee and representative for the victim within the party, has publicly opposed Cho's appointment as emergency committee chairperson. Kim Jaeseop, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, criticized Cho's sense of empathy by pointing out the timing of Cho changing his social media profile photo and urged him to retire from politics, while Joo Jinwoo, another lawmaker from the same party, filed a police complaint against key Innovation Party officials for violating the Sexual Violence Prevention Act.