Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, officially declared a run in the Pyeongtaek B National Assembly by-election to be held alongside the June 3 local elections. On the 19th at Hambaksan Central Park in Pyeongtaek, Cho said, "I will start the era of Greater Pyeongtaek with transportation innovation," adding, "The national representative city of Pyeongtaek now needs a national representative lawmaker." Cho's bid to reenter the Assembly comes 1 year and 4 months after the Supreme Court in Dec. 2024 finalized a prison sentence on charges including "college admissions irregularities for a child," costing the seat.
Cho said, "I have many shortcomings and make mistakes, but I am a national representative politician," adding, "When Cho Kuk represents Pyeongtaek, Pyeongtaek's pending issues can finally become Korea's national agenda." He also said, "By properly combining the three growth axes of economy-logistics-security with the three livelihood axes of 'transportation-care-housing,' I will open the era of Greater Pyeongtaek," and pledged ▲ promotion of a new KTX South Gyeonggi Station ▲ pilot project for premium BRT (bus rapid transit) ▲ expansion of National Route 38.
He said, "I will mobilize all my experience as presidential senior secretary, justice minister, lawmaker, and party leader, and the accompanying human networks, for Pyeongtaek's leap," adding, "Because the Democratic Party leadership decided to field a candidate in Pyeongtaek, is it the spirit of plaza solidarity for the Rebuilding Korea Party not to field a candidate?"
Addressing criticism that there are no ties to the Pyeongtaek B district, he answered, "A lawmaker not only represents the interests of the district but also represents all of Korea." He then mentioned Democratic Party of Korea Pyeongtaek C lawmaker Kim Hyun-jung and Hanam A lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, saying, "Was floor spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung from Pyeongtaek? Lawmaker Choo Mi-ae was not from Hanam either, but was elected. I can cite countless such examples."
Earlier, Cho was elected through proportional representation in the Apr. 2024 general election. At the time, Cho had been sentenced to two years in prison in the appeals court on charges including a child's college admissions irregularities and the Blue House's suppression of an inspection. Ultimately, eight months after being elected, the Supreme Court finalized the ruling and the seat was forfeited, but Cho was released early under a Liberation Day special pardon in Aug. last year, shortly after the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration.