'Time for Joguk to Apologize' Won Hee-ryong: "Seeing Him Even Publish a Book Shows He Still Doesn't Know Remorse"

On the afternoon of the 25th of last month, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong is discussing with young people at the 16th Jeju Forum Pre-Conference held at Haevichi Hotel & Resort in Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Won Heeryong, governor of Jeju Province and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, recently criticized former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, who published a memoir titled 'The Time of Cho Kuk,' saying, "Seeing that he even published a book, Cho Kuk still does not know how to reflect."

On the 2nd, Won posted a message titled 'The Time for Cho Kuk to Apologize' on his Facebook, expressing this criticism.

He began by saying, "There was a time when I thought I could die for democracy."

He continued, "Would I have criticized well-off and handsome kids like Cho Kuk for not participating in student movements? No," adding, "I wrote about my labor movement experiences instead of correct answers on the final exam answer sheet, and Cho Kuk probably did not feel comfortable seeing me like that." Won and Cho were classmates in the 1982 class at Seoul National University Law School.

Won stated, "When Cho Kuk was the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs under the Moon Jae-in administration, he crossed the line by inciting anti-Japanese sentiment, mentioning the 'death bamboo spear song,'" and "I was disappointed beyond anger seeing his appearance at the confirmation hearing after being appointed Minister of Justice."

He also pointed out, "If you are a professor at Seoul National University, you should not have your son intern where you work. Forging certificates of commendation for his daughter's university admission and the corruption committed at the academy run by his family, where he is a director, are clear crimes." He recalled, "At that time, I told Cho Kuk he should immediately resign as minister."

Furthermore, he said, "He apologized for dividing public opinion, but Cho Kuk should apologize not for dividing public opinion but to the other students who could not enter university because of his daughter," adding, "He should not feel sorry that the professor who gave his daughter a scholarship suffered hardships, but apologize to the other students who could have received the scholarship."

He then questioned, "Cho Kuk asks who was the first whistleblower to reveal the forged certificates. Is that such an important matter?"

Won emphasized, "Struggling to cling to vested interests and never reflecting is no different from continuing to steal," and "I ask ruling party politicians who say they feel sorry for Cho Kuk, what are you sorry about? Rather, he should apologize to us."

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 31st of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea plans to announce its stance on public opinion gathered over the past week at the 'Listening to the People Project National Report Meeting' held on the 2nd.

At this event, it is expected that Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, will directly express an apology regarding controversies involving high-ranking figures in the ruling party, including the Cho Kuk incident, sexual harassment cases involving former mayors Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don, and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) scandal, which are considered among the factors behind the ruling party's defeat in the April 7 by-elections.

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