The Ministry of Justice plans to recommend a special pardon for former Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk and former Seoul Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon to President Lee Jae-myung ahead of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. The pardon is a unique power of the president, and if President Lee accepts it, they will be pardoned immediately. Former Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho, who served as the first Minister of Justice under the Moon Jae-in administration, was sentenced to two years in prison in December last year on charges related to children's entrance exam fraud. He has completed one-third of his sentence so far. With the local elections approaching next year, it is expected to emerge as the 'core of the political situation' depending on the president's decision.
Kang Yu-jeong, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated during a briefing on the 7th, "Until the president makes a final decision on the exercise of the pardon power, even the staff will find it difficult to know the results," adding, "We will only know the confirmed list of pardons at the time of official announcement through the government council's deliberation and subsequent decision process." Earlier, the Presidential Office released an official statement on the 4th, saying, "We are listening to various opinions from all walks of life regarding the pardon."
The 'Cho Kuk pardon' is a highly volatile issue in the political arena. Former leader Cho was indicted in December 2019 on charges of entrance exam fraud and covering up investigations at the Blue House, with the first trial result taking 3 years and 2 months to be announced. The once-solid progressive camp has fragmented due to the so-called 'Cho Kuk incident.' In the political arena, there is a realization that the façade of the progressives who came into power under the banner of 'fairness' and 'justice' has been revealed. After going through a Supreme Court ruling, he was incarcerated at the Seoul Detention Center on December 16 last year. If confirmed as a special pardon for Liberation Day, he would be released after 8 months of imprisonment.
The discussion about the pardon within the ruling party gained momentum when it was revealed last month that National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik had met with former leader Cho Kuk. Current ruling party member Congressman Kang Deuk-koo also publicly demanded the pardon. Following this, former Minister Park Sang-ki and other law professors, along with Ven. Jinwoo, a senior member of the Buddhist Jogye Order, sent a letter to the Presidential Office recommending the pardon. Notably, on the 5th, it was also confirmed that former President Moon Jae-in requested the pardon for former leader Cho through senior political advisor Woo Sang-ho. It's notable that a former president's personal request became public.
There are sharp differences of opinion within the progressive camp. This stems from the political pros and cons of the 'Cho Kuk pardon' for next year's local elections. If the highly recognized former leader Cho returns, he will have to compete with the Democratic Party for dominance in Honam. Given that the local elections are being held in the second year of the administration, the Rebuilding Korea Party may expand its influence. Public opinion is also divided. There is a burden due to having served time for entrance exam fraud, which could evoke public backlash, and the fact that he has only completed 30% of his sentence might become a negative factor that hinders the early momentum of the administration.
Yoo In-tae, former Secretary-General of the National Assembly, said on CBS Radio regarding former President Moon's request for former leader Cho's pardon, "It is an embarrassing act," adding, "What does a person who did not grant a pardon to Kim Kyung-soo until the end of his presidency have to say such things?" Kim Kyung-soo, chairman of the Local Era Committee, was confirmed to have received a two-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court for his involvement in the 'Druking' comment manipulation scandal. After being imprisoned in the Seoul Detention Center in July 2021, he served time in Changwon Prison, among others. The following year, a 'pardon without restoration' was confirmed under former President Yoon Suk-yeol, and he was released in December of the same year.
President Lee has been on summer vacation in Jodo, Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, since the 4th. Upon his return next week, he will receive a report from Minister Jeong Seong-ho on the candidates for pardon and restoration. This list will be finalized after deliberation and decision by the government council on the 12th. There are widespread expectations that former leader Cho will be pardoned. Recently, Kang Hoon, head of the Presidential Office, received a list of 'special pardons for conservative politicians' from People Power Party emergency committee chairman Song Eon-seok. This is interpreted as having accepted the demands from the opposition to ease the backlash against the pardon for former leader Cho.