Speculation on Jo Guk's Candidacy: Ruling Party Says 'Jonattaeng'... Opposition Advocates 'Caution'

Jang Ye-chan "I want to attend dawn prayers, telling me to run for office"

Speculation about former Justice Minister Cho Kuk running in next year's general election is emerging as a new topic in the political sphere.

The People Power Party (PPP) is welcoming the idea, saying "We want him to come out so much that we want to attend early morning prayers," but the opposition parties are taking a cautious stance amid varying degrees of enthusiasm depending on factions. This is due to the perception that Cho's candidacy could impose a 'double standards' frame on the entire opposition.

Jang Ye-chan, the PPP's youngest supreme council member, said on the 15th on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "I want to attend early morning prayers. I want Cho to run," adding that his candidacy would be "advantageous (to the PPP)."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The reason he expects Cho's appearance is because of the advantage in the 'frame war.' Jang said, "If Cho appears, it will once again create a frame of 'double standards' versus 'fairness' itself," adding, "There are all sorts of stories coming out about Yangsan in Gyeongnam and Sasang in Busan, and the members or candidates mentioned there are probably praying, saying 'Please come to my constituency, please come to my constituency.'"

Kim Jong-hyuk, former emergency committee member of the PPP, also said on CBS Radio on the 12th, "When Woo Byung-woo, former senior secretary for civil affairs, runs, people say 'Woo-na-ttang' (Woo Byung-woo comes out, thank you). (Cho's candidacy) is Woo-na-ttang multiplied by 100." This means that Cho's candidacy would bring a much greater positive effect to the PPP than Woo's candidacy being welcomed by the Democratic Party.

On the other hand, the opposition parties show varying degrees of enthusiasm depending on factions. The pro-Myeong (친명) faction praises Cho as a 'Dreyfus' and justifies his candidacy. Dreyfus was a Jewish officer in late 19th century France who was falsely accused of espionage and was exonerated after 12 years.

Jung Cheong-rae, a supreme council member of the Democratic Party, said at the supreme council meeting on the 14th, "Isn't it too harsh for Professor Cho Kuk's family, who suffered ruin over a single certificate of commendation for passing the Busan National University medical school entrance exam?" Kim Eui-gyeom, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said on SBS Radio, "He is the counterforce to the prosecutorial dictatorship shown by the Yoon Seok-yeol government."

The non-Myeong (비명) faction is skeptical about his candidacy. Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon said on CBS Radio that day, "If you have any affection for the Democratic Party, you should give up running," adding, "(Cho's) nomination by the Democratic Party would change the frame from 'judging the Yoon government' to 'judging the opposition,' which would invite defeat in the general election."

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-chan also said on SBS Radio the previous day, "There must be a sufficient process of consideration about how his candidacy would affect our Democratic Party and the entire democratic camp."

Cho Kuk has not yet officially announced his decision to run, but the prevailing view is that he will enter politics to 'restore his honor' after being dismissed from his professorship at Seoul National University. He has also immediately appealed the dismissal decision by Seoul National University.

Regarding the possible constituencies, Gwanak-gu, Yangsan in Gyeongnam, and Sasang in Busan are being mentioned. Gwanak-gu is where Cho moved last year and is a stronghold of the Democratic Party, while Yangsan in Gyeongnam is where former President Moon Jae-in's residence is located.

In the case of Sasang-gu in Busan, which was former President Moon's constituency when he was a member of the National Assembly, and where Jang Je-won, a key figure of the People Power Party and considered a 'Yoon core insider,' is currently serving, if Cho runs there, it could become a 'big match' between Moon's close aides and President Yoon's close aides.

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