Moon, Cho Kuk Recommend Books "Regardless of the Author's Situation... Good Books"

"Author's Efforts Bloom Amid Numerous Hardships Shine"
Five Days After Former Minister Cho's Guilty Verdict in Court

Former President Moon Jae-in introduced the book 'A Stroll Through Legal Classics by Cho Kuk,' published by former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk in November last year, as "a good book I want to recommend regardless of the author's circumstances."

On the 8th, former President Moon recommended 'A Stroll Through Legal Classics by Cho Kuk,' saying, "I feel a renewed sense of the author's capabilities as a scholar and writer, and I have a heavy heart." The book introduces 15 classic legal texts personally selected by former Minister Cho and examines their significance in contemporary Korean society.

Former President Moon's mention of having a "heavy heart" regarding former Minister Cho is interpreted as expressing his feelings about Cho receiving a prison sentence in the first trial.

Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges including his children's admission fraud and covering up the Blue House inspection, was sentenced to two years in prison and fined 6 million won on the 3rd. At that time, the court found most of the charges related to his children's admission fraud and the cover-up of the inspection of former Busan Deputy Mayor Yoo Jae-soo to be guilty.

[Photo by The Minjoo Party of Korea]

Former President Moon continued, "Everyone talks about the rule of law, but there is a lack of awareness that the rule of law, paired with democracy, restrains state power." He added, "The author's lectures on legal classics make us reconsider law and justice in Korean society," and praised, "The author's efforts, which blossomed amid numerous difficulties, shine brightly."

Meanwhile, former Minister Cho served as the first Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs and Minister of Justice during the Moon Jae-in administration. Former President Moon had also expressed regret toward Cho during his tenure.

At a New Year's press conference on January 14, 2020, he said about Cho, "I believe his contributions as a minister until the passage of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act and the Prosecutor Reform Coordination Bill were tremendous," and added, "Regardless of the verdict, I feel indebted to him for the hardships he has endured so far."

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