Park Ji-hyun on Cho Kuk's Apology: "Thankful... Let's Investigate Nationwide Professors' Children’s Papers and Intern Activities"

Apology Demand Met with Cho Kuk Saying "I Disagree with the Verdict but Respect It... I Apologize Hundreds of Times"
Park Ji-hyun "I Had to Be Stricter with My Side to Criticize the Yoon Government Cabinet"

Park Ji-hyun, Co-Chair of the Emergency Response Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed a full investigation of children of university professors nationwide.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Park Ji-hyun, co-chair of the Emergency Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, who demanded an apology from former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk regarding his children's admission fraud, stated, "I appreciate former Minister Cho's apology" and insisted that "a full investigation into the children of university professors nationwide is necessary."

In response to Park's demand, former Minister Cho issued an apology message. On the 25th, he revealed on Facebook that he had apologized several times during past press conferences as a ministerial candidate, confirmation hearings, and during the general and presidential elections, stating, "Although I have serious disagreements with the Supreme Court's factual and legal judgments, I respect and accept the ruling with a heavy heart."

He added, "I apologize to those who, unlike my family, did not have the opportunity for internships or experiential activities provided by professor parents. If you ask me to apologize again, I will do so hundreds of times," but also said, "I hope that the investigation, prosecution, and judgment standards applied to my family's case will be used to verify high-ranking officials in the Yoon Suk-yeol government."

In response, Park posted a message titled 'A Promise to Former Minister Cho' on her Facebook, saying, "I appreciate former Minister Cho Kuk's apology," and began by saying, "I was also moved to tears upon hearing that former Professor Jung Kyung-shim was transported to the hospital after hearing about her daughter's condition."

She continued, "Nevertheless, as the co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Committee, not as an individual Park Ji-hyun, I could not take a lenient stance," emphasizing, "I, as a co-representative of the ruling party confirmed by the Supreme Court's final ruling, cannot deny the facts. Only then can I be proud and free from criticism by the opposition." She explained that to criticize the Yoon Suk-yeol government's cabinet, including allegations of admission and military service fraud involving Health and Welfare Minister nominee Jung Ho-young's children, it was necessary to address former Minister Cho's issues first.

On the 25th, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk responded to the request of Park Ji-hyun, the Democratic Party's emergency committee member, by issuing an apology message.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park also stated, "Someone had to speak on behalf of the younger generation, who feel alienated and despairing after witnessing repeated unfairness, irregularities, and corruption during every ministerial confirmation hearing," adding, "As the leader of a public party, it is an unavoidable but difficult role to be stricter with my own side to break free from blind factionalism and double standards."

She then proposed a full investigation into the authenticity of co-authored papers by minor children of university professors nationwide and internships or experiential activities provided by professor parents, regardless of whether they run for public office. She said, "If necessary, the Ministry of Education should conduct a full investigation of all universities nationwide, both public and private, to create a society where such wrongful practices and irregularities can never happen again," adding, "It is also unfair that those who commit the same wrongdoing are punished because they run for public office, while those who do not run are overlooked as if nothing happened, and this is an unfairness we must resolve."

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