"Cho Kuk's pardon led to today's collapse" ... Ahn Cheol-soo directly attacks President Lee

[Financial News] Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party argued that President Lee's pardon of Cho Kuk was behind Cho Kuk's emergence as a fierce critic of the Democratic Party.
On the 15th, Ahn posted on Facebook an article titled, "President Lee, do you regret last year's Liberation Day pardon of Cho Kuk?"
Ahn said, "Last Liberation Day, I opposed the pardons of Cho Kuk and Yoon Mee-hyang in front of President Lee," adding, "Because it was an act that undermined the meaning of liberation."
He continued, "Even so, President Lee went ahead with the pardons, and one year later Cho Kuk became a 'Democratic Party sniper' who works hard attacking the ruling party and the government." He added, "He ran in the Pyeongtaek by-election, giving the People Power Party one more precious seat, and has also been helping us with his words, saying things like 'the tax reform was below expectations,' 'Samnik leverage failed, and Kim Yong-bum should take responsibility.'" Ahn also lashed out, saying, "He even resorted to crude ideological vetting by invoking 'Ilbe detection' over an idol's dialect."
Ahn asked, "One year later, does President Lee regret last year's Liberation Day pardons?" He added, "Are you still confident it was the right decision?"
He went on to say, "From the pardons of Cho Kuk and Yoon Mee-hyang to the delisting of Samnik leverage, the scrapping of ISA reforms, the abandonment of the tax law that would have forced Seoul's 60s and 70s generation into elder care, and loans for young people buying non-apartment homes, I have pointed out President Lee's weak points every time." He then questioned, "Yet if you keep choosing the wrong answers, isn't public trust being broken?"
He added, "President Lee, reflect on last year's Liberation Day. Please recognize that the lack of communication and arrogance that began with the wrong pardon led to today's collapse."
Earlier, Cho Kuk was released on Aug. 15 last year through a Liberation Day special pardon. In December 2024, he was convicted of charges including college admissions fraud involving his children and interference in Cheong Wa Dae inspections, and received a final sentence of two years in prison. He was freed after about eight months in custody. Originally, Cho Kuk was barred from running for office until Dec. 2031, five years after the completion of his sentence. But his political rights were restored through a pardon, removing restrictions on his political activities.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter