"Is Choi Kang-wook's statement about the amnesty not a preparatory move?"… Allegations raised against Lee Jae-myung
Koo Jin-woo, a member of the People Power Party, issued a strong warning message towards President Lee Jae-myung regarding the speculation surrounding a special amnesty for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
Koo emphasized, "The decision on Cho's amnesty will serve as a barometer to determine whether the Lee Jae-myung government is truly 'fair'."
On the 10th, Koo, who serves as the legal advisory chairman of the People Power Party, mentioned on his social media the statements made by Choi Kang-wook, a former member of the Democratic Party and an aide to former Minister Cho, suggesting that "is it not the case that some factions of the ruling party have quietly begun preparations for a cease to the amnesty process?"
Choi recently stated on his YouTube channel, "President Lee Jae-myung suggested that before Cho Kuk was incarcerated, he would grant amnesty in the shortest possible time, urging us to 'join forces to save the country'," adding, "I expect a special amnesty to be granted soon."
"Cho Kuk Innovation Party is not running in the presidential election to support Lee Jae-myung… Isn’t it in exchange for amnesty?"
Koo raised suspicions that these statements go beyond mere expectations and indicate that there may have been a political deal.
He pointed out, "Cho's wife, Jeong Kyung-sim, openly supported President Lee Jae-myung by posting on social media 'Let’s meet again, Cho Kuk,' and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party did not even field a presidential candidate."
He continued, "I cannot help but ask whether there was a political deal between the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and the amnesty," noting that President Lee criticized the unification of Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok during the election, stating it was a "bribe for candidates if it was achieved through party power." He questioned, "If a pact was made around Cho's amnesty, isn't this essentially candidate bribery?"
"Six months out of two years in prison… Granting amnesty undermines fairness"
Koo also strongly questioned the timing of the amnesty in relation to Cho's prison sentence. He stated, "The person who inflicted irreparable wounds on young people and parents without influence due to entrance exam fraud is precisely Cho Kuk," adding, "It makes no sense to discuss amnesty when he has only been incarcerated for six months after being sentenced to two years in prison."
He further stated, "Whether President Lee is someone who merely speaks of fairness or genuinely upholds it will be evident in the decision regarding Cho's amnesty," noting, "If he is prepared to bow his head before the people, he must not proceed with the amnesty."
Former Minister Cho was sentenced to prison at the Seoul Detention Center on December 16, 2024, following a definitive ruling by the Supreme Court, and was transferred to the Southern Correctional Facility on January 22.
