Cho Kuk blasts 'powerless' Democratic Party over Oh Se-hoon acquittal, demands Kim Min-seok respond

Cho Kuk, head of the Rebuilding Korea Party's Innovation Policy Research Institute, sharply criticized the Democratic Party on Sunday over Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's acquittal in an appellate court ruling.

Writing on social media, Cho said, "A powerless Democratic Party has created a crisis, and it is becoming a crisis for the entire democratic reform camp." He added that the leadership under Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok must answer for it.

"The far-right camp, including the People Power Party, has gained momentum, while the democratic reform camp has lost its energy," Cho said. "If things continue this way, defeat at the hands of the insurrection and far-right forces in the next general election is certain."

He went on to say that the Democratic Party had squandered precious time by sowing division within its own ranks and within the broader democratic reform camp, causing it to miss the right moment to pursue the impeachment of Chief Justice Jo Hee-de and push through judicial reform.

"In the meantime, the party kept harping on about Shinchonji, dual party membership and other distractions — and the result was a collapse in approval ratings," he said.

Cho also referenced media reports suggesting there was a sense of relief within the party that the likelihood of a Seoul mayoral by-election had diminished. "I nearly lost my temper," he said. "What kind of ruling party thinks it's better off because it was afraid of losing the Seoul mayoral election?"

Cho urged Democratic Party leader Kim to reflect on and apologize for the politics of division and the retreat from reform, and to first consolidate the camp's internal strength. He called on Kim to "shut up and unite" within the Democratic Party and to make a decisive move to pursue the impeachment of Chief Justice Jo.

"The Democratic Party under Kim Min-seok must give a clear answer to the people who defeated the insurrection — which path will it take?" Cho warned. "If the Democratic Party hesitates and refuses to act, citing fears of a backlash, the ground beneath its feet will crumble."