South Korean President Pardons Ex-Justice Minister Cho Kuk Amid Controversy

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced on August 11, 2025, a presidential pardon for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, effective August 15, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. This pardon reinstates Cho's eligibility to run for public office, potentially revitalizing his political career.

Cho Kuk, born in 1965 in Busan, served as Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs from 2017 to 2019 and briefly as Minister of Justice in 2019. His tenure ended amid allegations of corruption involving his family's business activities. In 2023, he was convicted of falsifying documents to aid his children's admissions into prestigious schools and began serving a two-year prison sentence in December 2024.

The pardon is part of a broader amnesty affecting 2,188 individuals, including former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, who was convicted of embezzling funds intended for survivors of Japanese wartime sexual slavery. President Lee stated that the pardons aim to promote national unity and economic recovery.

The conservative opposition People Power Party criticized the move, arguing it undermines societal fairness and justice. They accused President Lee of abusing his presidential powers to release and reinstate Cho, who "trampled on the fairness and common sense of future generations."

Public opinion has also been affected, with President Lee’s approval rating falling from 63.3% to 56.5% in early August, partly due to controversy over the pardons.

Cho Kuk founded the Rebuilding Korea Party in March 2024, aiming to challenge the dominance of the two major political parties. The party did not run a candidate in the 2025 presidential election, endorsing Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party instead.

Presidential pardons are a common practice in South Korea, often granted during national holidays to promote unity and reconciliation. However, pardoning political figures, especially those convicted of corruption, has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing it undermines the rule of law and public trust in the justice system.

President Lee's decision to pardon Cho Kuk reflects a complex interplay between efforts to promote national unity and the challenges of maintaining public trust in the justice system. As South Korea approaches its 80th Liberation Day, the nation grapples with balancing reconciliation with the imperative of upholding the rule of law.