Hwang Unha Returns to Cho Kuk... "Yoon Seok-yeol's Faction Massacres Cho Kuk's Entire Family"

by Jang Heejun

Published 08 Mar.2024 10:42(KST)

Hwang Unha, Who Declared Not to Run in the General Election, Joins Joguk Innovation Party

Hwang Unha, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, left the party and joined the Joguk Innovation Party. This marks the first time a sitting lawmaker has joined the Joguk Innovation Party. Attention is also drawn to the fact that Representative Joguk and Representative Hwang, who appear in the case, have reunited amid the prosecution's reopening of the investigation into the 'Ulsan mayoral election interference' case.

On the morning of the 8th, Representative Hwang held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and stated, "I have decided to join the Joguk Innovation Party for a greater victory of the democratic reform progressive forces and a decisive judgment against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." He added, "A grand strategy that can guarantee victory in the general election is necessary," and "To achieve this, all citizens who want to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration must be encouraged to participate in voting."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Hwang Unha is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 26th to announce his decision not to run in the general election. [Image source=Yonhap News]

He also raised the banner of 'anti-prosecution.' He claimed, "Representative Joguk had to endure the horrific pain of his entire family being slaughtered by Yoon Seok-yeol's faction when a storm of rebellion comparable to the new military coup swept through," and "I too have suffered life-ruining damage due to abuse of prosecutorial power." He emphasized again, "The victory of the Joguk Innovation Party will enable the Democratic Party to win more constituencies," and "This is only possible when the people frustrated by the failure of prosecutorial reform embrace new hope and come out to vote."

Representative Joguk and Representative Hwang are linked by allegations of 'Blue House-ordered investigations and interference in the Ulsan mayoral election.' It concerns the claim that during the 2018 local elections, the Blue House systematically intervened to ensure the election of Song Cheol-ho, a friend of former President Moon Jae-in and former mayor of Ulsan. At that time, Joguk, then the Blue House Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, is suspected of being involved in ordering Hwang Unha, then Chief of the Ulsan Police Agency, to conduct an 'ordered investigation' into Kim Gi-hyeon, the Ulsan mayor and former leader of the People Power Party. Due to this case, Representative Hwang was sentenced to three years in prison in the first trial in November last year and subsequently announced he would not run in the general election.