Cho Kuk, the former emergency response committee chairman of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, has officially announced his candidacy for party leader at the upcoming party convention on the 23rd, running unopposed. Despite anticipation following a special pardon on Liberation Day, his approval ratings have remained low. He faces challenges such as forming strategies for the upcoming June 3rd local elections. Cho expressed his determination to start anew, aiming for change by leaving his past behind and beginning afresh as a “new Cho Kuk.”
Previously, Cho resigned from his role as emergency committee chairman to run for party leader. He returned to politics as the emergency response chair following internal sexual misconduct issues. Despite these challenges, Cho is determined to establish a strong and resilient party, resisting merger talks with the Democratic Party while critiquing the ruling People’s Power Party. He aims to position the Innovation Party as a formidable contender in future elections, advocating reform and grassroots organization to challenge the status quo in local elections.
Cho acknowledged the current low approval ratings, citing a recent poll showing a 2.5% support rate for the Innovation Party. He stressed the need to incrementally build support leading up to next year’s elections. He plans to take charge of recruiting candidates for the local elections and is focusing on increasing the party’s influence across various regions without committing to any personal electoral plans at this stage.
The Innovation Party’s upcoming convention in Cheongju on the 23rd will see Cho as the sole candidate for party leader, while four candidates are vying for the two top committee positions.