Democratic Party of Korea leader Jeong Cheong-rae visited former President Moon Jae-in in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, on the 7th. This was his first visit after taking office as party leader, serving as a kind of courtesy. However, the meeting drew particular attention as the Ministry of Justice announced it would begin reviewing candidates for the special pardon on Liberation Day (Aug. 15), and news arose about a request from former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk to pardon him. While there was no mention of 'the pardon of Cho Kuk,' the mere meeting itself was evaluated to have political significance.
After paying respects at the tomb of late former President Roh Moo-hyun at Bongha Village in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, Jeong moved to Yangsan Pyeongsan Village where former President Moon resides to hold a private meeting. The meeting proceeded for about 50 minutes with Supreme Council members Jeon Hyun-hee and Lee Un-joo present.
According to Spokesperson Kwon Hyang-yeop, former President Moon congratulated Jeong on his appointment, saying, "It seems that you will be able to launch the government stably for the first time and accomplish various reform tasks well." He added, "It would be good if you could do well until next year's local elections. There are very encouraging signs in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, and if you do well, there might be changes in the TK (Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do) region."
In response, Jeong said, "You have the loudest voice among those I have met so far. You seem comfortable," adding, "I will often come to you for advice in difficult times."
Political attention was focused on 'the pardon of Cho Kuk.' According to the ruling party, former President Moon recently requested that the Rebuilding Korea Party's former leader Cho Kuk be included among candidates for the Liberation Day special pardon. In response, the presidential office stated, "We are collecting various opinions regarding the pardon of politicians" and added that no final conclusion has been reached.
Coincidentally, this day was also the day the pardon review committee for the first special pardon under the Lee Jae-myung administration was held. The Ministry of Justice convened the pardon review committee for the Liberation Day special pardon in private and began the process of narrowing down the final candidate list.
However, there were reportedly no mentions of 'the pardon of Cho Kuk' during the meeting. Spokesperson Kwon noted, "Former President Moon made no mention of the pardon at all. Nor did Jeong."
It seems they refrained from direct remarks considering the negative public opinion both inside and outside the party.
Following news of former President Moon's 'request for pardon,' criticism arose particularly within progressive online communities. Some criticized, "Why is former President Moon trying to give the pardon risk to the current president? This only adds burden at the beginning of the Lee Jae-myung administration." There is also ongoing pressure on Jeong not to request a pardon for former leader Cho.
Jeong has shown a favorable stance toward former leader Cho. He praised Cho during a visit on the 5th to the Rebuilding Korea Party, saying, "The Rebuilding Korea Party has very faithfully fulfilled the role of an icebreaker." He also remarked, "I think the president will handle it appropriately," and mentioned that he personally visited Cho. However, amid the focus on party unity and securing political dominance, he is distancing himself from the pardon issue. The Democratic Party maintains that pardons fall within the president's authority and stated that it did not specifically convey opinions related to special pardons to the presidential office.
Meanwhile, Jeong plans to visit the disaster site in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, and check the party's reform legislative tasks around Liberation Day.