Former Minister Cho Kuk, “I Will Live as a Natural Person, a Human Being, and a Citizen”

Former justice minister Cho Kuk speaks at a book concert for his book Law Classics in Jeonju on April 19. Captured from OhmynewsTV

On April 19, former justice minister Cho Kuk said, “Now, I’m not the senior secretary for civil affairs and I’m about to voluntarily and involuntarily quit as professor as well,” and announced, “From now on, I will live as the natural person Cho Kuk, the human being Cho Kuk, and the citizen Cho Kuk.”

At a book concert in Jeollabuk-go Wednesday, when a supporter asked Cho Kuk if he planned to run in the parliamentary elections next year, Cho said, “It’s hard to say,” and made the announcement. The audience applauded shouting, “Run.”

The former justice minister compared his current situation to a hyeongjopanseo (justice minister) sent into exile in Hamkyong Province in the kingdom of Joseon and asked, “What can I do with a cangue around my neck?” He then explained, “I am currently working because the thorny vines have temporarily been lifted.” Cho further said, “I am still on trial and even I do not know what I will do when the trial ends and the cangue around my neck and the chains around my ankles are removed.”

Cho mentioned his experience in the office of the senior secretary for civil affairs in Moon Jae-in’s Cheongwadae and joked, “We half-jokingly teased people who had never been questioned or prosecuted while working in the office of the senior secretary for civil affairs as a person who didn’t work hard.”

Cho recollected the Cho Kuk incident in 2019 and said, “At the time, I lost all contact with my acquaintances, and it was hard to even find a lawyer. I lived in isolation for about a year. I experienced the people (my acquaintances) roll out like the water at low tide.”