Hong Ik-pyo Announces 'Meeting with Jo Guk'... Will the Democratic Party Embrace Jo Guk?

Hong Ik-pyo "Likely to Consider Direction with All Opposition Parties"
Park Sung-min "Cannot Expand Base with Cho Kuk... Must Draw a Line"

Amid rumors of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk running in next year's general election, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, opened the possibility of communication on the 13th, saying, "I would like to meet former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk soon and hear what he has to say." Within the Democratic Party, there is a cautious stance, with some speculating that Cho's candidacy could be a setback for the party.

In an interview with YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' on the 13th, Hong was asked, "Is the new party of Cho Kuk, or Cho's candidacy, a burden?" He replied, "It is Cho's personal decision, and he has not yet joined our party," adding, "I think he will probably consider together how the democratic camp, including our party and the broader opposition, should proceed. I would like to meet him soon and hear what he has to say."

So far, the Democratic Party leadership has kept its distance from movements related to Cho's candidacy. Cho Jung-sik, the party's secretary-general, said at a press conference the day before, "We still do not know what former Minister Cho will decide," while Han Byung-do, chairman of the party's strategic planning committee, stated, "I don't think Cho will cause any disadvantage or conflict with the Democratic Party. There has been no communication with the party regarding his candidacy."

Earlier, Hong also reserved his position on Cho's candidacy, postponing the timing of judgment to November or December. In a radio interview last June, he said, "Cho Kuk's candidacy is entirely his own responsibility," adding, "It is not something to judge prematurely, and it might be better to think about it around November or December." Currently, it is about five months before the general election that Hong himself mentioned at that time.

Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk is being interviewed by the press on the afternoon of the 9th at Pyeongsan Bookstore in Pyeongsan Village, Habuk-myeon, Yangsan-si, Gyeongnam, during the event "Tears of Dike, Meeting with Author Cho Kuk." [Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, Cho has been active with events such as a signing event for his new book, Tears of Dike. On the 9th, he held a signing event in Pyeongsan Village, Habuk-myeon, Yangsan City, Gyeongnam Province, where former President Moon Jae-in has been residing since his retirement, meeting with Moon and local citizens.

An official stance on running in the general election has not yet been announced. On the 10th, Cho posted on his social media, "In the general election, the democratic progressive camp, led by the Democratic Party, must win and politically and legally judge the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecutorial dictatorship regime," adding, "Judging the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecutorial dictatorship regime, the victory of the democratic progressive camp in the general election, and regime change for a better life for the vast majority of the people will also be the greatest 'restoration of honor' for me personally."

Earlier, on the 6th, in an interview with the YouTube channel Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory, when asked about running in the general election, he said, "I am currently on trial, and I will try my best to explain and clarify legally," adding, "If this is not accepted, I am thinking about finding a way to restore my honor through non-legal means."

If Cho firmly decides to run, analysts say it could be a setback for the Democratic Party. There are concerns that if the Democratic Party embraces Cho, it will lose support from moderate voters.

On the same day in the afternoon, former Supreme Council member Park Sung-min said on YTN Radio's 'Issue & People,' "Cho Kuk has recently been at the center of attention. Whether he runs in the general election or not, it seems he has political intentions," adding, "But I believe that with him, it is impossible to expand the party's base."

Park added, "Now is the time to draw a line," and said, "Messages inviting him to join must never be issued."

Currently, Cho Kuk was sentenced to two years in prison in the first trial for charges including his children's school admission fraud and covering up Blue House inspections, and he is undergoing an appeal trial.

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