By Park Moo-jong
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In other words, this means there are many things against common sense in this society now.
The reason is quite simple. Suspicions and controversies surrounding the justice minister nominee have gone beyond all reasonable bounds, causing a serious split in public opinion.
Common sense and justice are the very basis of state affairs that the Moon government has been advocating.
Yet, Cho, a jurist and a Seoul National University law professor who put aside his academic career to follow around a presidential candidate, hoping for a government position or parliamentary seat, has been in the middle of a shameful scandal he brought upon himself.
Along with the topic of common sense, criminal suspects' signature answer to questions by investigators ― "I dunno" ― has emerged in people's daily life thanks to the justice minister nominee.
Then, what is common sense?
It is the basic level of practical knowledge and judgment that we all need to help us live in a reasonable and safe way, according to English dictionaries.
Common sense is the natural ability to reason, manage, make good decisions and conduct affairs by thinking things through and coming to reasonable conclusions.
Common sense as "normal" people understand it means one is "sensible" and can avoid many of life's common pitfalls by acting in sensible, responsible ways. Lack of common sense can get even intelligent people into huge amounts of trouble.
Examples of common sense in our daily life can include: respecting elders, not giving excuses for oneself or others, saying please, thank you or sorry, apologizing for wrongdoings, not smoking in public and not going out nude in public, and so on.
Japan's unilateral decision to ban exports of some chemical materials to South Korea is an example of the lack of common sense in a global society.
A society where common sense works is a healthy society. A society where common sense does not work and unlawful acts are rampant is a sick society. President Moon has called for the building of a common-sense society.
Day after day since Moon nominated Cho as justice minister a month ago, news reports about suspicious, scandalous and allegedly unlawful acts of the nominee and his family members are making headlines ahead of a National Assembly confirmation hearing, though his supporters in the presidential office, ruling party and some progressive groups condemn them as "fake news."
Cho has been a clear target of a public outcry over the alleged irregularities, including the suspected illicit and unfair entrance of his 28-year-old daughter into a prestigious university and a graduate school and a hefty investment by his wife and family members in a private equity fund.
The National Assembly hearing was almost aborted over the weekend due to bipartisan wrangling over who would appear as witnesses, including Cho's wife, and the ruling party, as reported well, allowed the nominee to hold a press conference Monday at the Assembly.
It is the crystal clear lack of common sense that the nominee for a Cabinet post had a chance to excuse himself about the piles of allegations during a press conference at the Assembly. Belatedly Wednesday, the rival parties managed to agree to hold the hearing Friday.
Furthermore, Cho, flatly denying the corruption allegations related to his wife and daughter, in particular, devoted himself to saying "I dunno" to the reporters' questions, more than 100 times during the press meet that continued for 10 hours and 45 minutes through the night.
The aforementioned "I dunno" used to be one of the easiest replies of criminal suspects to deny allegations against them. The prosecution is conducting an "intensive" investigation into the allegations involving the justice minister nominee and his family members.
It is against common sense that a candidate for a Cabinet seat who is being investigated along with his family as criminal suspects refuses to withdraw his nomination. It would be common sense for Cho to withdraw to help the prosecution realize social "justice" or for Moon to rescind his nomination.
British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam since 1978, said: "I am confident that, in the end, common sense and justice will prevail. I'm an optimist, brought up on the belief that if you wait to the end of the story, you get to see the good people live happily ever after."
Park Moo-jong (emjei29@gmail.com) is a standing adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English daily newspaper from 2004 to 2014 after working as a reporter since 1974.
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