Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk Announces Formation of New Progressive Party for General Election

2024-02-13 19:03:00
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk announced the creation of a new party on the 13th. /Reporter Kim Dong-hwan

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk declared the creation of a new party for the general election on the 13th, saying, “I want to create a party that is more progressive and fights stronger than the Democratic Party. “Of course we will cooperate with the Democratic Party in that process,” he said. Former Minister Cho was sentenced to two years in prison in both the first and second trials on charges of corruption in children’s entrance exams, but he can run in the general election before the Supreme Court makes a final ruling. The Democratic Party drew a line, saying, “New Cho Kuk Party is not subject to election alliance,” but the People Power Party said, “The reason the general election was reduced to a means of exonerating former Minister Cho is because the Democratic Party paved the way for the ‘satellite party election system.’” did.

On this day, former Minister Cho held a press conference to launch a new party at Democracy Park in Busan, his hometown. When asked whether he would run in the general election in a regional or proportional way, former Minister Cho replied, “I am not creating a political party alone, I am doing it together with my comrades and friends, so it is an issue that I cannot do this or that as I please.” In the political world, there are predictions that former Minister Cho will run proportionally, with a slightly higher chance of being elected, unless the Democratic Party receives ‘constituency concessions’.

Regarding the possibility of the new party joining the ‘Democratic Party Satellite Party’, former Minister Cho said, “I know that the Democratic Party has various positions,” and “I do not plan to decide my course of action while worrying about what decision the Democratic Party will make.” This means that they are aware that there is a negative opinion within the Democratic Party that “we must not fall into the ‘river of our country’ again.” Still, he said, “I don’t know what will happen in the end.” Former Minister Cho said, “In order to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol regime, it is important to create a one-on-one structure in all constituencies. “To that end, I plan to create a political party,” he said, adding that he had no plans to compete with the Democratic Party candidate in the district.

Former Minister Cho said in a book published after the so-called ‘Cho Kuk Incident’ that “I will surrender when the final ruling is made on the charges.” However, after being found guilty in the first trial, he hinted at running for general elections, saying, “If the legal explanation is not accepted, I think we should find a way to restore our reputation in a non-legal way.” Former Minister Cho was indicted in December 2019, but there has been no final ruling for four years and two months, so there are no legal restrictions on his candidacy in the general election. However, even if he is elected, if he is found guilty, he will lose his seat as a member of the National Assembly. This is why there is criticism in the political and legal circles that “Cho Kuk’s candidacy is playing with the law” and “the court that delayed the trial is also an accomplice.”

The Democratic Party appears perplexed when the new Cho Kuk Party becomes a reality. Rep. Park Hong-geun, head of the Democratic Party’s satellite party election coalition promotion team, said on Facebook that day, “Former Minister Cho’s participation in politics or the creation of an independent party will only generate unnecessary controversy, conflict, and persistent attacks,” and “Even if a new party is created, it will not be subject to an election coalition.” “I make it clear that it is difficult to consider,” he said. There were also voices of dissatisfaction from the Democratic Party’s pro-Myeong faction when former President Moon Jae-in, who met with former Minister Cho on the 12th, said, “If politics within the Democratic Party is difficult, I understand the inevitability of forming a new party.” The question is, why did they not block former Minister Cho’s founding or running for office since it did not help the Democratic Party? The People Power Party criticized, “The shameless ‘New Cho Kuk Party’ is the result of the Democratic Party’s fandom politics and election system collusion,” and “The Democratic Party should first reflect on the past before distancing itself from the New Cho Kuk Party.”

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