The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Actor Yoo Ah-in appears for questioning over alleged drug use

  • 3

    ANALYSISTesla, BYD's price cuts unnerve LGES, Samsung, SK

  • 5

    Yoo Ah-in appears before police over alleged use of illegal drugs

  • 7

    One of two Kazakhstanis who fled Incheon Int'l Airport nabbed

  • 9

    Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome

  • 11

    Korean crypto investors want Do Kwon punished in US

  • 13

    Clock ticks for China's massive repatriation of N. Korean defectors

  • 15

    Families of foreign construction workers can receive retirement pay: court

  • 17

    N. Korea fires 2 SRBMs toward East Sea; US aircraft carrier due in S. Korea for joint training

  • 19

    Nongshim plans to build plant in eastern US region

  • 2

    SK chief's estranged wife sues his new partner for compensation

  • 4

    4 young Nigerian siblings killed in house fire in Ansan

  • 6

    US aircraft carrier to visit Busan amid NK provocations

  • 8

    Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April

  • 10

    Chun Doo-hwan's grandson apprehended at Incheon Int'l Airport over drug use

  • 12

    Revised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guard

  • 14

    TEMPLE ADVENTURESHaedong Yonggung Temple prospers on Busan's coast

  • 16

    Gimpo-China flights recover to pre-pandemic levels

  • 18

    Local bank stocks hit by shockwaves from SVB, CS collapses

  • 20

    Right-wing Japanese support Seoul-Tokyo ties: Korean envoy to Japan

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Wed, March 29, 2023 | 15:49
Editorial
Controversy over Cho Kuk
Posted : 2019-08-20 17:10
Updated : 2019-08-20 18:30
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Parties should hold confirmation hearing quickly


President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister, Cho Kuk, is in the hot seat over fraud and corruption allegations levelled against his relatives.

The conservative parties, led by the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), are stepping up their political attacks, demanding Moon withdraw Cho's nomination immediately. There has been extensive media coverage of suspicions surrounding Cho's family ― and his possible involvement in the alleged wrongdoings. The stories about his relatives are making headlines every day, and rival parties are yet again being thrown deeper into a vortex of mudslinging.

This turmoil was largely expected when Moon nominated Cho, a former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs who has spearheaded the much-disputed judicial reform, for justice minister in a Cabinet shakeup, Aug. 9. Conservative parties have largely branded Cho as a radical reformist with ideological bias who is possibly "leading a plot to extend liberal rule and suppress political opponents." They mostly understand the ongoing judicial reform and his nomination in this context.

So it was not strange that Cho became an instant target of political offensives. In fact, Cho had been rumored to be handpicked for the next justice minister long before the Cabinet reshuffle. Looking at a series of allegations raised by conservative lawmakers day after day, they seem to have long prepared for this battle. In a way, this is a do-or-die fight for them given that Cho, a law professor, has been a symbolic figure in this ideologically polarized Korean society since joining Cheong Wa Dae in May 2017.

Cho's case basically represents a chaotic situation being repeated in Korean politics, possibly in any democratic society in the world that has fair elections to choose its leader. The No. 1 rule for opposition parties there is to weaken power of the national leader, and it is often the case that their close aides and confidants become easy political targets.

In Cho's case, a lot of questions have been raised about his family. Cho's 28-year-old daughter, attending a medical graduate school in Busan, is suspected of receiving scholarships totaling 12 million won ($9,900) for three years from a private foundation despite her low academic achievements. The foundation is run by a professor who was the daughter's academic adviser in graduate school and early this year became the director of Busan Medical Center.

Cho's wife is also suspected of engaging in a fraudulent property deal with the ex-wife of Cho's brother to avoid paying inheritance tax. Suspicions are swirling over a questionable investment by the Cho family in a private equity fund, which is possibly operated by a relative, and a family-owned foundation that runs a middle school in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. Cho himself was a director of the school foundation from 1999 to 2009.

Conservative parties have largely attacked Cho's family, but failed to come up with concrete evidence showing Cho's direct involvement in corruption or fraud or his ethical lapses. Cho has avoided responding to the allegations, saying he will explain all in a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.

However, the date of the confirmation hearing for Cho has not been fixed yet mainly because the LKP has delayed the proceedings. Instead, LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn vowed to boycott all Assembly sessions and begin anti-government rallies as early as this week.

But what is needed now is a tough confirmation hearing for Cho, not such rallies.


 
Top 10 Stories
1Revised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guardRevised Japanese textbooks distort wartime forced labor, catching Korea off guard
2Clock ticks for China's massive repatriation of N. Korean defectors Clock ticks for China's massive repatriation of N. Korean defectors
3Gold price nears all-time high amid financial jitters Gold price nears all-time high amid financial jitters
4Ramsar wetland in Han River cleaned up for protected birdlife Ramsar wetland in Han River cleaned up for protected birdlife
5BMW launches new XM BMW launches new XM
6Civic groups in Gwangju await meeting with Chun Doo-hwan's grandson Civic groups in Gwangju await meeting with Chun Doo-hwan's grandson
7CJ CheilJedang sees chicken as next big seller after frozen dumplingCJ CheilJedang sees chicken as next big seller after frozen dumpling
8North Korea unveils tactical nuclear warheads North Korea unveils tactical nuclear warheads
92024 budget to focus on tackling low birthrate 2024 budget to focus on tackling low birthrate
10Jeju seaways get busy with cruise ships, new trade route to Qingdao Jeju seaways get busy with cruise ships, new trade route to Qingdao
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April Will April releases revive Korean cinema? Films to look out for in April
2Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome Dreams come true: TXT mesmerizes 21,000 fans at KSPO Dome
3'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty' to be adapted into live action series in Thailand
4[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet' INTERVIEWChoi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'
5Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store' Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re to lead fantasy drama 'The Mysterious Candy Store'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group