[Comprehensive] "Heartbreaking and Sorry" vs. "'Jobi Eocheonga' Pathetic" Disagreement Between Ruling and Opposition Over Cho Kuk's New Book

Former Minister Cho's Memoir 'The Time of Joguk' to be Published on the 1st of Next Month
"We Will Achieve Prosecution Reform," "Our Milestone," Ruling Party Offers Support
"Only Focused on Hardline Supporters," "Public Sentiment Will Be Cold," Opposition Criticizes

The book "The Time of Cho Kuk," written by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, will be published on the 1st of next month. / Photo by Cho Kuk's Facebook page capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The release of a memoir by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk has sparked differing opinions between the ruling and opposition parties. While the Democratic Party of Korea expressed sympathy with remarks such as "It is heartbreaking and I am sorry," the People Power Party criticized it, saying "They are not reading public sentiment."

Earlier, on the 27th, former Minister Cho announced on his social media accounts, including Facebook, that "After a long period of reflection and self-restraint, I cautiously prepared this book. After revealing the facts I wanted to disclose and expressing the words I had kept in my heart, I feel much lighter," announcing the publication of his new book.

The title of the book published by former Minister Cho is "The Time of Cho Kuk," which is said to contain a summary of the so-called "Cho Kuk incident" that occurred after he was nominated as Minister of Justice in 2019, as well as untold stories related to the situation at that time.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk / Photo by Yonhap News

In response, messages of consolation poured in from the ruling party.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon wrote on Facebook, expressing sympathy toward former Minister Cho, saying, "It is heartbreaking and I am sorry," and added, "I will also devote my efforts to the government's reform tasks laid during hardship, especially the completion of prosecutorial reform."

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also emphasized on Facebook, "The Time of Cho Kuk was a historical crossroads," stating, "It was a crossroads divided by the Taegeukgi and candlelight protests, a crossroads where truth and falsehood held their breath."

He added, "The phrase 'a book written with the blood of family' pains my heart," and "I hope that The Time of Cho Kuk will boldly reveal the truth in the name of the law."

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae also emphasized on the 28th that "The Time of Cho Kuk should become our milestone."

She continued, "Cho Kuk's ordeal is the reform history of candlelight citizens, reminding us that prosecutorial reform, which is the beginning of candlelight reforms in the country established by candlelight protests, must never be stopped," and said, "For him who carried the flag of prosecutorial reform, the command of candlelight citizens, and led the way, who charged into the strong resistance of the prosecution, who endured times of trial and humiliation with his entire family, who became the target of the unchecked prosecutorial power and public trial's arrows, what we must do is to move forward steadily with uninterrupted reform."

On the morning of the 6th, at the 'Myeongbulheojeon Bosuda' meeting of first-term members of the People Power Party held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min is giving a lecture on party reform to gain public trust. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, the opposition party voiced criticism, saying, "It is burning the hearts of the people black again."

On the 30th, People Power Party spokesperson Bae Jun-young issued a statement saying, "Former Minister Cho seems to be trying to clear his name and rally his supporters by publishing an autobiography," and criticized, "Is it an autobiography or an autobiographical novel?"

Member of the same party Yoon Hee-sook also wrote on Facebook, "Ruling party presidential candidates are rushing to offer words of consolation and empathy regarding former Minister Cho's book," and criticized, "It seems they are only focusing on the hardline supporters who shout 'Even if my head is broken, Cho Kuk,' ignoring the people."

She added, "I want to see presidential candidates gather and seriously wrestle with the question 'What is fairness in our era?' regarding Cho Kuk's book."

Former People Power Party member Yoo Seung-min wrote on Facebook on the 29th, "Cho Kuk is a symbol of unfairness, illegality, lies, and hypocrisy," and pointed out, "The flattery of Democratic Party figures sounds like a hymn praising a patriot."

He warned, "The Cho Kuk incident revealed the bottom of pseudo-progressivism, and because of this, public sentiment has turned away from them (the Democratic Party). The more they sing the pathetic 'Cho hymn,' the colder public sentiment will become."

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