Kang Gijeong: "Cho Kuk's Pardon Is the Path to Restoring Judicial Justice"

Kang Gijeong voices support for President Lee Jaemyung's decision
Says, "I hope the day Leader Cho is released will be the day Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee are imprisoned"

On August 11, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong commented on the pardon of former Innovation Party leader Cho Kuk, stating, "I support President Lee Jaemyung's decision."

On his Facebook page that day, Mayor Kang wrote, "Although pardons and reinstatements are political issues, for the person who is actually imprisoned, it is a source of hope. I had scheduled a visit with Leader Cho a long time ago, and it turns out the pardon is supposed to be decided today. I am pleasantly debating whether I should wait a little longer and meet him outside instead."

Kang Kijeong, mayor of Gwangju, is taking a commemorative photo with Cho Guk, the party leader, after requesting support for city administration at the "Cho Guk Innovation Party Elected Officials Current Issues Meeting" held at Gwangju City Hall on the morning of April 23 last year. Provided by Gwangju City

Mayor Kang continued, "I myself was pardoned and reinstated after being imprisoned for three years and seven months. After I was released, Chun Doohwan and Roh Taewoo, who had imprisoned me, ended up in jail themselves," he said. He went on to add, "I hope the day Leader Cho comes out into the world will also be the day both Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee are imprisoned. That is the way to correct prosecutorial dictatorship and restore judicial justice."

President Lee Jaemyung convened the 35th extraordinary Cabinet meeting that afternoon and unilaterally deliberated and approved the agenda for 'special pardons, special commutations, special reinstatements, and special reductions.' The presidential office explained, "There were too many items on the regular Cabinet meeting agenda, so it was decided to split them up." Extraordinary meetings were also held for the New Year's special pardons at the end of the Moon Jaein administration in 2021, as well as for the New Year's and Liberation Day special pardons under the Yoon Sukyeol administration in 2022 and 2023.

The scene when Lee Jae Myung, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, paid a visit to Cho Kuk, leader of the Innovation Party, in August last year. Photo by Kim Hyun Min

Previously, on August 7, the Ministry of Justice's pardon review committee included former leader Cho and his spouse, former lawmakers Choi Kangwook and Yoon Meehyang, former Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Heeyeon, and other figures from the ruling bloc, as well as conservative politicians such as former lawmakers Hong Moonjong and Jung Chanmin, on the list. With the pardon and reinstatement of former leader Cho, he will be eligible to resume political activities, including running in the local elections in June next year and the next presidential election.

The opposition bloc has criticized the move as 'favoring one's own side' and 'undermining judicial justice.' However, the ruling bloc sees it as a symbolic step to regain momentum for prosecutorial reform. With the pardon of former leader Cho confirmed, it is highly likely that next year's local elections will serve as his comeback stage, and there is also speculation that he may run for mayor of Seoul or Busan.

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