South Korea Justice Minister Offers to Quit after Mass Protests
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – South Korea’s newly appointed justice minister offered to resign amid widening corruption investigations, dealing a political blow to President Moon Jae-in.
Cho Kuk said in a statement that he would offer to step down Monday, just five weeks after Moon decided to go ahead with his appointment over the objections of opposition lawmakers. Cho faced a range of inquiries into issues involving him and his wife, including their children’s university applications and an investment in a private equity fund.
“I’ve decided that I should no longer put pressure on the president and the government with my family issues,” Cho said. “I’ve decided that in order for a successful reform of the prosecution, I needed to step down”, Bloomberg reported.
Moon’s office didn’t immediately respond to request for comment Monday. The president pushed back by an hour a scheduled 2 p.m. meeting with senior secretaries.
While the decision to appoint close confidant Cho delighted the president’s left-leaning base, many South Koreans opposed the move. Tens of thousands of critics have flooded Seoul’s streets in recent weeks, calling for Cho’s resignation.
Cho, a former law professor who became a senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, has denied wrongdoing. The probes undermined Cho’s efforts to paint himself as a reformer trying to level the legal playing field for the average citizen.
The opposition Liberty Korea Party has gained ground on Moon’s Democratic Party amid the scandal. A Real Meter poll released earlier Monday showed the LKP with about 34% of support, less than one percentage point behind the ruling party.
