Jo Eung-cheon "If Jo Guk has any affection for the Democratic Party, he should withdraw his candidacy"

Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon advised former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, amid rumors of his candidacy, to "give up running if he has even a little affection for the Democratic Party." He explained that the Democratic Party's nomination would burden the party, and even if Cho runs as an independent or under a new party, it would still be a burden.

On the 15th, Cho said on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Cho Kuk's nomination by the Democratic Party would change the frame of 'judging the Yoon government' to 'judging the opposition party,' which would lead to a self-inflicted defeat in the general election."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "The centrist voters will definitely turn away. And even if he runs as an independent or under a new party, former President Moon Jae-in mentioned that he feels a debt of gratitude, and since Cho Kuk is such a symbolic figure, it would be an enormous burden for the Democratic Party," emphasizing that "his candidacy itself is a huge burden for the Democratic Party.

Cho said, "Isn't it that Cho Kuk basically created a presidential candidate for the People Power Party, which was wandering without one?" He continued, "Within the party, many who used to chant 'Long live Cho Kuk' have recently been supporting Representative Lee Jae-myung, so I ask them to tell Cho Kuk not to run."

Since Innovation Committee Chair Lee Rae-kyung resigned, the Democratic Party has been searching for a successor, narrowing down candidates to Professor Jeong Geun-sik of Seoul National University's Department of Sociology and Professor Kim Eun-kyung of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Law School. Representative Lee and the pro-Lee faction are strongly backing Professor Jeong. Cho said, "(If Professor Jeong becomes Innovation Committee Chair,) he would be seen as a sort of special task force for the current leadership," adding, "if he proceeds in that manner, aiming to strengthen party members' rights by introducing measures like member recall or abolishing the delegate system, it will be difficult to gain consensus among all lawmakers."

Regarding former Representative Lee Nak-yeon's return, Cho commented, "It is somewhat inappropriate for him to intervene immediately in the urgent internal party situation. Also, since it could cause further discord, it would be better for him to provide guidance from a senior perspective on major issues such as international affairs, security, and inter-Korean relations, and offer a compass on whether our country is truly moving in the right direction."

On the controversy surrounding Democratic Party lawmakers visiting China at the invitation of the Chinese government amid deteriorating Korea-China relations due to the 'Xing Haiming incident,' Cho said, "As a G2 country right next door, we absolutely cannot ignore China's presence in economic matters." He explained, "When government-level diplomacy is blocked and it is difficult to find a breakthrough, parliamentary diplomacy is usually employed."

He emphasized that it is a matter of parliamentary diplomacy. He said, "I believe this is necessary to overcome the current difficulties. Also, to my knowledge, some People Power Party lawmakers were originally included in the delegation visiting China today, but for various reasons, they decided not to go. Since the delegation promised the Chinese government to attend, if the entire group does not go, it would not be good for bilateral relations."

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