"Cannot Acknowledge Illegality of Jo Guk Family" Jo Guk Supporters Boil Over US Human Rights Report

US State Department Human Rights Report: "Cho Kuk Family Used Their Position for Illicit Gains"

The appearance of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk attending the warrant hearing held at the Seoul Eastern District Court on December 26, 2019. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Allegations of corruption against former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk have been included in the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published on the 11th (local time). Netizens presumed to be supporters of Cho Kuk are posting comments on related articles and engaging in heated debates with other internet users.

They pointed out that the allegations against former Minister Cho are matters currently under trial and should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but since they were recorded in the report, it is as if a guilty verdict has been effectively issued. On the other hand, other netizens are rebutting these opinions, saying, "This is nothing short of a national disgrace."

Previously, supporters of former Minister Cho have labeled the prosecution as 'political prosecutors' and continued to condemn them. Their main argument is that the human rights of Cho's family were violated during the prosecution's investigation process. In particular, recently, they have started efforts to establish the 'Cho Kuk Protection Party' ahead of the April 15 general election.

The U.S. Department of State, in the 35-page Korea section of the '2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' released that day, stated that while the Korean government generally enforced laws punishing public official corruption effectively, "public officials sometimes engaged in corrupt practices without punishment, and there were numerous media reports concerning government corruption."

The State Department noted that the Korean government was in the second year of its five-year anti-corruption roadmap and introduced the results of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council chaired by President Moon Jae-in.

The report mentioned former Minister Cho, stating, "Minister of Justice Cho Kuk resigned 35 days after his appointment on October 14 last year amid allegations that he and his family improperly used his position and, in some cases, sought academic advantages for his daughter and illicit investment gains."

On the afternoon of December 26 last year, supporters of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk held a nighttime rally in front of Dongbu Detention Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, urging the dismissal of the arrest warrant.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices included allegations against former Minister Cho Kuk, netizens presumed to be his supporters expressed incomprehension through comments on related articles. They questioned why mere allegations, which are still under trial, should be recorded.

One netizen raised their voice, saying, "The representative corruption in the Republic of Korea is the prosecution." Another netizen expressed distrust in the human rights report, saying, "I suspect this report was made by simply accepting conservative media coverage as is."

Meanwhile, there are also claims that the matter is still under trial. One netizen strongly argued, "The case against former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk has not yet resulted in a guilty verdict in the first trial," adding, "The cases that should rightfully be cited as corruption examples are former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye."

Amid this, some netizens are posting comments to refute opinions defending former Minister Cho. One netizen pointed out, "Leftists, you have regressed Korean political history by 100 years," effectively accusing Cho's supporters of covering up his corruption.

President Moon Jae-in is answering questions from the press at the 2020 New Year's press conference held at the Blue House's Yeongbingwan on the morning of January 14. [Image source=Yonhap News]

There are also opinions criticizing President Moon Jae-in. One netizen said, "The U.S. Department of State's 'Country Reports on Human Rights Practices' included the Cho Kuk family," adding, "Cho Kuk must be embarrassed, but the person who appointed such a figure as Chief Presidential Secretary should also be ashamed." They further criticized, "Moon Jae-in supporters still gather and are devoted to defending Cho Kuk."

Another netizen pointed out the New Year's press conference held by President Moon on January 14, saying, "Is there no problem with someone who has brought disgrace to the nation's dignity being forgiven in their heart?"

At that press conference, President Moon mentioned former Minister Cho Kuk, saying, "I feel deeply indebted to him for the hardships he has endured so far (due to the prosecution's investigation, etc.)."

When asked, "What kind of person is former Minister Cho from the president's perspective?" President Moon said, "I believe his contributions as Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Minister of Justice, leading to the passage of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials Act and the prosecution reform adjustment bill, were very significant."

Meanwhile, supporters of former Minister Cho have started efforts to establish a political party centered around him. According to the Central Election Commission on the 10th, the Preparatory Committee for the Establishment of the Cho Kuk Protection Party (tentative name) filed a formation report with the Election Commission on the 4th.

The representatives of the Cho Kuk Protection Party Preparatory Committee are Park Jung-kyung and Lee Tae-geon. In their founding statement, they claimed, "Recently, we have witnessed the ruthless violence inflicted by the corrupt and evil political prosecution on the minister and his family, who were trying to carry out reforms in accordance with the people's mandate."

They continued, "Because they led reforms, more than 100 prosecutors, who live off the state budget, were mobilized to conduct inhumane atrocities for months, even searching through a child's diary, leaving the public stunned and helpless."

Meanwhile, former Minister Cho recently stated that he has no connection with the 'Cho Kuk Protection Party.' In a post on his Facebook on the 10th, he said, "As various movements to create a new party are forming ahead of the general election, my name is being mentioned, and since there have been inquiries about this, I will respond collectively."

He added, "I am not participating in or involved in any party formation activities. I am focusing on taking care of my family, who have been devastated by the prosecution's investigation, and on legally clarifying the unfairness of the prosecution's indictment based on facts and law."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.