Cho Kuk defends critical stance against pro-Lee Jae-myung factions

Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party’s Innovation Policy Research Institute, has responded to criticism from pro-Lee Jae-myung factions within the Democratic Party of Korea. The tension arose after Cho suggested that pushing for the withdrawal of prosecution against Lee Jae-myung without verifying claims of manipulated indictments could lead to political and legal failures.

Cho defended his stance on social media, stating that he was providing a “warning signal” to protect the administration. He criticized the backlash from Democratic Party members—who labeled his remarks as “ungrateful” or “out of touch”—arguing that such ridicule does not help resolve the President's legal issues or improve approval ratings. He emphasized his role as a “red team” intended to point out mistakes to ensure the success of the government.

Democratic Party leaders, including Park Sun-won and Park Jie-won, had previously expressed strong regret and criticism regarding Cho’s comments, suggesting his rhetoric was not that of an ally. Cho countered that these critics may have misunderstood his intent, asserting that his duty is to speak up when things are going wrong.