President Lee to Hold Emergency Cabinet Meeting a Day Earlier… Decision on the Pardon of Jo Kuk and Others

President Lee Jae-myung will hold an emergency cabinet meeting today (the 11th) to decide on the special pardon for Jo Kuk, former leader of the Jo Kuk Innovation Party, and others for the August 15 Liberation Day.

On the 10th, spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung from the presidential office announced, "An emergency cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place at 2:30 PM on the 11th."

She continued, "We plan to deliberate and vote on matters concerning special pardons, special commutations, special restorations, and special remissions."

Closed Session Without Live Broadcast

As such, it seems that the pardon and restoration of politicians, including former representative Jo, will be decided in the emergency cabinet meeting held on the 11th instead of the originally planned date of the 12th.

Regarding this, Jeong Kwang-jae, the spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated, "The public has the right to know who supported the pardon for these two individuals and for what reasons during the cabinet meeting, as well as what thoughts President Lee has." He demanded that the cabinet meeting deciding on the pardons for Jo and others be broadcast live.

The presidential office plans to conduct the emergency cabinet meeting scheduled for today (the 11th) without a live broadcast and in private.

Previously, on the 7th, the Ministry of Justice's Pardon Review Committee advised President Lee on special pardons and restorations for former representative Jo and his spouse, as well as former lawmakers Choi Kang-wook and Yoon Mi-hyang.

A government official on that day predicted, "At least, we will significantly accommodate the ruling party's request for pardons, as there should not be any conflict within the support base."

In response, Ahn Cheol-soo, who is running in the People Power Party leadership election, criticized, "Last winter, they were praising the people with a sense of self-importance, but in the end, only these criminals are granted a 'reunion with the world.'"

Image source: President Lee Jae-myung speaking at the cabinet meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 8th of last month. / News1, On May 25 of last year, President Lee Jae-myung (then leader of the Democratic Party) and former representative Jo Kuk (then leader of the Jo Kuk Innovation Party) are seen talking at the 'National Rally to Condemn and Urge the Passage of Special Prosecutor Bill' near Sungnyemun in Jung-gu, Seoul. / News1, On December 13 of last year, citizens urging the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol and the dissolution of the People Power Party in front of the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul (left), Ahn Cheol-soo, candidate for the party leadership (right) / News1