hankyoreh

President Lee Jae Myung gavels into order a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul’s Yongsan District on Aug. 11, 2025, where a list of candidates for special pardons was approved. (pool photo)

President Lee Jae Myung granted special pardons on Monday to 836,687 individuals, including Cho Kuk, the former leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party. The pardon will cut short Cho’s two-year prison term for falsifying academic records to help his daughter enter prestigious schools, and unlawfully interfering with a government inspection. Lee aims to promote unity and tolerance through this first exercise of his presidential authority to grant pardons. But he must seriously take into account the criticisms and concerns about fairness that this decision has triggered.

Cho Kuk is the figure who has attracted the most public attention out of all the pardon recipients. He has been at the subject of much controversy since August 2019, when former President Moon Jae-in nominated Cho, then senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, to be justice minister, which sparked a clash between efforts toward prosecutorial reform and discourse around fairness. 

The investigation into Cho’s suitability, led by then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol, began with allegations of investment in a private equity fund, but then expanded to include allegations of college admissions fraud involving his children and corruption charges related to the Woongdong School foundation, which is run by Cho’s family. In the process, Cho’s wife, two children, nephew, and other associates had their lives upended and put under the prosecutors’ microscope. The investigation was carried out in typical prosecutor style, conducted with a predetermined goal. 

In the end, Cho was not even indicted for investment in the private equity fund, which was initially touted as a central reason for the investigation. It is impossible not to see this as Yoon’s attempt to block Cho from carrying out his pledge to reform the prosecution service.

As a result of this investigation, Cho’s wife, Chung Kyung-shim, was sentenced to four years in prison and served three years and three months before being released on parole in September 2023. His daughter Cho Min’s admissions to Korea University and Busan University's medical school were revoked. Cho Kuk, who resigned 35 days after being appointed minister, had his two-year prison sentence finalized in December last year. Even Hong Joon-pyo, the former mayor of Daegu, characterized this investigation which nearly destroyed Cho’s entire family as “excessive.” 

The fact that the Rebuilding Korea Party secured 12 seats in the April 2024 general elections can be seen as a reflection of public sentiment condemning the prosecution service’s excessive targeting and investigations. Therefore, Cho’s pardon and reinstatement can be seen as remedying the abuse of prosecutorial power.

However, public opinion remains split on Cho’s pardon due to issues of fairness, as his conviction caused great social uproar over falsified internships and commendation certificates obtained thanks to one’s parents’ social status and network. Some also say that the pardon came too early, as Cho has served only about one-third of his sentence. Though he is now once again able to run for public office, Cho must humbly reflect on such critiques before moving forward.

It is regrettable that the special pardon list also includes former lawmakers Hong Moon-jong, Jung Chan-min, and Shim Hak-bong, who were convicted of bribery and embezzlement. While their inclusion could be seen as an effort to balance the interests of the ruling and opposition parties, it is unclear how pardoning these individuals aligns with the president's stated purpose of promoting social unity.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]