Democratic Party's Kanggukoo Calls for Public Request for Special Pardon for Former Leader Cho Kuk on Liberation Day

Voices calling for a public request for a special pardon for former leader Cho Kuk of the Justice Party, who is currently incarcerated, have emerged within the Democratic Party.

On the 26th, Kanggukoo, a member of the Democratic Party, posted a message on Facebook suggesting Cho Kuk's special pardon on August 15th.

Kang stated, "I propose a pardon for former member Cho on August 15th." He continued, "I heard that National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has visited former member Cho. I also visited him recently. Seeing him remain unyielding brought back memories of the brutal treatment inflicted by the Yoon Seok-yeol regime upon him and his family."

He went on to emphasize, "What is the reason for Cho's imprisonment? One thing is clear. If he had not engaged in politics, if he had not shouted for judicial reform, if he had not opposed Yoon Seok-yeol, he would not have faced this ordeal."

Kang further asserted, "He became a target throughout the Yoon Seok-yeol administration after opposing Yoon when he served as Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs, and ultimately ended up in prison. In a way, this is reminiscent of the targeted investigations experienced by President Lee Jae-myung."

Kang claimed, "Yoon has deployed the political prosecution against those who have fallen out of favor, delivering both political and criminal blows. How many citizens would disagree with this fact?"

He added, "He and his family have already paid a harsh price for their actions. Yet, even in the face of that blade, he did not bow down and fought with everything to hasten the end of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime. He founded the Justice Party, vocally called for Yoon's impeachment before anyone else, and played a significant role in preventing a state of emergency and defending democracy."

Kang emphasized, "We are clearly indebted to former member Cho for the end of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime and the birth of the Lee Jae-myung government, and he has ample reason to receive a pardon for criticizing the dictator and advocating for reform under a ruthless political prosecution regime."

The Presidential Office's Cautious Stance

However, the Presidential Office has shown a cautious attitude regarding discussions of Cho's pardon.

On the 27th, spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stated during a briefing, "There has been no discussion regarding the pardon power," drawing a line on the matter.

She added, "The power to grant pardons is fundamentally the President's authority, and the President is the one who can make the final decision." She noted that while the opinions of aides could be sought later, no meetings are held on the topic.

Meanwhile, the Liberation Day special pardon is an annual event conducted on August 15th, which often includes politically significant figures.

Whether former leader Cho Kuk will be included in this year's Liberation Day special pardon is expected to depend on the current government's political determination and public opinion, among various factors.

Image Sources: Cho Kuk, former Justice Party leader / News1, Kanggukoo, Democratic Party member / News1, Cho Kuk, former leader of the Justice Party / News1