BUSAN, Cho Kuk, the scandal-tainted former justice minister, said Tuesday he will create a new political party to run for the April 10 general elections.

Cho made the announcement at a news conference in the southeastern port city of Busan, saying his entry into politics is intended to punish the Yoon Suk Yeol administration for its incompetence across wide-ranging policies and “prosecutor dictatorship.”

Cho said his party will put forward policy alternatives to overcome the national crisis in diplomacy, security, economy and other fields without being concerned about voter popularity.

Regarding his method for running in the general elections, Cho said the matter will be determined through consultations with his colleagues and party members.

“Whether to seek a proportional representation seat or run in a constituency cannot be decided on my own. After establishing the political party, I’ll discuss the matter with my colleagues and friends,” Cho said.

Cho’s news conference came five days after an appeals
court confirmed a two-year prison sentence for him over academic fraud involving his children and unlawful interference with a government inspection.

Last Thursday, the Seoul High Court upheld Cho’s conviction for using his influence to receive academic favors, including university admissions, for his children and interfering with an inspection into a corruption case by using his power as a presidential aide. The appellate court did not place Cho under immediate detention and he vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Cho, a former law professor at Seoul National University, served as the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs from 2017-19 during the Moon Jae-in presidency. He was appointed as the justice minister in September 2019 before stepping down about a month later amid the academic fraud scandal.

Source: Yonhap News Agency