[Comprehensive] Unexpected Jojuk Controversy over Cho Kuk... Descendants of Nammyung Josik Say "Unreasonable and Insulting"

Hwang Hee-seok, Open Democratic Party Supreme Council Member, "Nammyung Jo Sik is Professor Cho Kuk's Ancestor"
Descendants of Jo Sik, "Not True at All... Nonsense and Forced"
Supreme Council Member Hwang Refers to Some Media, "Looking at Fingers Instead of the Moon"
Jo Su-jin, United Future Party Lawmaker, "There is a 'Right Way' to Interpret History"
Jin Joong-kwon, "Some Foolish Lawmaker Praises Cho Kuk as Yeongnam School"

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who is suspected of involvement in his children's admission fraud and cover-up of an inspection, is responding to reporters' questions as he enters the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 19th to attend the trial. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Hwang Hee-seok, a Supreme Council member of the Open Democratic Party, claimed that "Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk (曺國) is a descendant of the scholar Nammyung Jo Sik (曺植)." However, descendants of Jo Sik strongly refuted this, saying, "This is completely untrue." Hwang pointed out that some media outlets distorted and misinterpreted his remarks. Although former Minister Cho Kuk himself has not directly addressed his genealogy, it appears that external figures have dragged him into an unexpected genealogical controversy regarding whether he is a descendant of Jo Sik.

According to the Chosun Ilbo on the 23rd, Jo Young-gi, who identified himself as a direct descendant of Jo Sik, said in an interview with the media, "After Hwang's claim became known, I reviewed the genealogy again because it contained information I was unaware of, but I was able to confirm once more that there is absolutely no connection with former Minister Cho Kuk."

He went on to say, "Trying to link former Minister Cho to Nammyung Jo Sik is an absurd and insulting distortion," expressing his outrage.

Photo by Hwang Hee-seok, Facebook of Open Democratic Party Supreme Council Member

In response, on the 22nd, Supreme Council member Hwang posted again on his Facebook, explaining, "The intent of my post yesterday was that former Minister Cho Kuk is a descendant of the Changnyeong Jo clan village in Ungdong, and while Nammyung Jo Sik is not a direct ancestor of former Minister Cho (nor was my post about whether Cho is a direct descendant of Jo Sik), the Changnyeong Jo clan venerates Nammyung as their ancestor, and the descendants of the Changnyeong Jo clan live by embodying his spirit."

He added, "I believe former Minister Cho Kuk, as a descendant of the Changnyeong Jo clan, also honors the will of Nammyung Jo Sik. Even I, with a different bon-gwan and surname, am someone who reflects on Nammyung's 'Byeoknipcheon' (벽립천?). The Chosun Ilbo seems to be focusing only on criticizing my finger while ignoring the moon my finger points to," he pointed out.

Earlier, on the 21st, Hwang wrote on his Facebook, "Nammyung Jo Sik was a figure who established the academic tradition of Gyeongsang Province, and the righteous armies of Yeongnam were either his disciples or those who learned from his teachings," adding, "He married and lived in Gimhae, and Ungdong is the area right next to Gimhae where the Changnyeong Jo clan village was located."

Hwang especially noted, "Ungdong, Ungdong Academy... a name we heard so much last fall," and said, "Now everyone will realize, but Nammyung Jo Sik is an ancestor of Professor Cho Kuk."

Hwang had previously compared former Minister Cho to Jo Gwang-jo, a reformer during the Joseon Dynasty under King Jungjong.

In response to Hwang's remarks, on the night of the 22nd, Rep. Cho Soo-jin of the United Future Party criticized on her Facebook, "Before the general election in March, Hwang claimed on Facebook, 'When I think of former Minister Cho Kuk, I recall Jo Gwang-jo, who pursued reforms during King Jungjong's reign but was falsely accused and became a victim of the Gimyo purge.' Yesterday (the 21st), he posted a claim that Cho Kuk is a direct descendant of Nammyung. He said, 'Nammyung married and lived in Ungdong next to Gimhae. Last fall (during the Cho Kuk incident), we heard that name (Ungdong Academy's 'Ungdong') so much.' No matter how free historical interpretation is, there is a limit to it," she criticized.

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon also wrote on his Facebook that day, "Character and spirit are acquired traits, not genetic," and questioned, "Did the Cho family inherit that noble character and ruin Ungdong Academy?"

He continued, "Those who claim to want reform are busy selling Joseon Dynasty genealogies, trying to defend a family riddled with all sorts of corruption. In the 21st century digital age, do we still have to fight anti-feudal battles?" he repeatedly criticized.

He sarcastically added, "Some foolish lawmaker put the president on the genealogy of the Taejong Tae-se Mun Dan Se royal family, and now a Supreme Council member of a ruling party is putting Cho Kuk on the Yeongnam school and praising him."

Meanwhile, former Director Hwang served as the head of the Ministry of Justice's Prosecution Reform Support Group while Cho Kuk was minister. He ran as a proportional representation candidate for the Open Democratic Party in the April 15 general election but was not elected.

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