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In Seoul, Crowds Denounce a Divisive Politician. Days Later, Others Defend Him. In Seoul, Crowds Denounce a Divisive Politician. Days Later, Others Defend Him.
(about 1 hour later)
SEOUL, South Korea — For weeks, huge crowds have been gathering in Seoul to denounce a man named Cho Kuk — or to defend him.SEOUL, South Korea — For weeks, huge crowds have been gathering in Seoul to denounce a man named Cho Kuk — or to defend him.
Mr. Cho, South Korea’s justice minister, and his family are being investigated over a slew of allegations, ranging from financial malfeasance to pulling strings to get a daughter into medical school. Demonstrators, most of them conservatives who oppose President Moon Jae-in, have rallied in large numbers to demand Mr. Cho’s arrest and Mr. Moon’s impeachment. Mr. Cho, South Korea’s justice minister, and his family are being investigated over a number of allegations, ranging from financial malfeasance to pulling strings to get a daughter into medical school. Demonstrators, most of them conservatives who oppose President Moon Jae-in, have rallied in large numbers to demand Mr. Cho’s arrest and Mr. Moon’s impeachment.
“Lord, please save this country by dragging Moon Jae-in out of office as soon as possible,” the Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, ​head of the Christian Council of Korea​, said at an enormous rally this month.“Lord, please save this country by dragging Moon Jae-in out of office as soon as possible,” the Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, ​head of the Christian Council of Korea​, said at an enormous rally this month.
But others see the issue very differently. Mr. Cho had been tasked by Mr. Moon with overhauling the national prosecutors’ office — the same agency now investigating him. Progressive supporters of the president have held increasingly large counterprotests, accusing the prosecutors of targeting Mr. Cho to preserve their own power.But others see the issue very differently. Mr. Cho had been tasked by Mr. Moon with overhauling the national prosecutors’ office — the same agency now investigating him. Progressive supporters of the president have held increasingly large counterprotests, accusing the prosecutors of targeting Mr. Cho to preserve their own power.
“Cho Kuk means prosecutors’ reform. He is our flag, he is our general,” Kim Min-woong, a political philosopher who teaches at Kyung Hee University, said during a rally this month. “We can win when we defend our flag and our general.”“Cho Kuk means prosecutors’ reform. He is our flag, he is our general,” Kim Min-woong, a political philosopher who teaches at Kyung Hee University, said during a rally this month. “We can win when we defend our flag and our general.”
The protests recall the huge weekly rallies in 2016 that preceded the impeachment and ouster of Mr. Moon’s predecessor, Park Geun-hye. Mr. Moon has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his removal seems a distant prospect at best.The protests recall the huge weekly rallies in 2016 that preceded the impeachment and ouster of Mr. Moon’s predecessor, Park Geun-hye. Mr. Moon has not been accused of wrongdoing, and his removal seems a distant prospect at best.
But the demonstrations show how polarized South Korean politics have become, and they have cast a new light on the prosecutors’ office — one of the country’s most powerful and disliked institutions.But the demonstrations show how polarized South Korean politics have become, and they have cast a new light on the prosecutors’ office — one of the country’s most powerful and disliked institutions.
Prosecutors in South Korea have powers well beyond those of their counterparts in most countries. They decide exclusively who is indicted and who is not (South Korea has no grand jury system). They also have authority over the police, and they reserve investigations of politically sensitive cases for themselves, leaving the police to handle more mundane matters.Prosecutors in South Korea have powers well beyond those of their counterparts in most countries. They decide exclusively who is indicted and who is not (South Korea has no grand jury system). They also have authority over the police, and they reserve investigations of politically sensitive cases for themselves, leaving the police to handle more mundane matters.
Surveys have found that they are deeply mistrusted by the public, often seen as doing the political bidding of whoever is in power. For decades, every president — including Mr. Moon — has vowed to take politics out of the agency, only to be later accused of using it to harass their political opponents or divert attention from domestic crises.Surveys have found that they are deeply mistrusted by the public, often seen as doing the political bidding of whoever is in power. For decades, every president — including Mr. Moon — has vowed to take politics out of the agency, only to be later accused of using it to harass their political opponents or divert attention from domestic crises.
“South Korea is a veritable republic of prosecutors,” said Prof. Ha Tae-hoon of Korea University School of Law, who called the agency a “beast” that had defied democratic progress. Another law professor, Han Sang-hoon of Yonsei University, said the prosecutors’ rigid “command-and-compliance culture” made internal checks and balances all but impossible.“South Korea is a veritable republic of prosecutors,” said Prof. Ha Tae-hoon of Korea University School of Law, who called the agency a “beast” that had defied democratic progress. Another law professor, Han Sang-hoon of Yonsei University, said the prosecutors’ rigid “command-and-compliance culture” made internal checks and balances all but impossible.
Few have condemned the prosecutors’ shortcomings more vigorously than Mr. Cho.Few have condemned the prosecutors’ shortcomings more vigorously than Mr. Cho.
Articulate, good-looking and charismatic, he became a social media star while teaching at Seoul National University School of Law, calling for more social equality and high ethical standards for politicians. In a clip from a 2011 forum that recently went viral, he said South Korea needed leadership that “refuses to join hands” with prosecutors, and that a justice minister should reform their office.Articulate, good-looking and charismatic, he became a social media star while teaching at Seoul National University School of Law, calling for more social equality and high ethical standards for politicians. In a clip from a 2011 forum that recently went viral, he said South Korea needed leadership that “refuses to join hands” with prosecutors, and that a justice minister should reform their office.
“But I warn you that if the minister tries to do that, prosecutors can go after him, digging up dirt against him,” Mr. Cho said. “They are the kind of group fully capable of shaking and toppling the minister by spreading rumors against him.”“But I warn you that if the minister tries to do that, prosecutors can go after him, digging up dirt against him,” Mr. Cho said. “They are the kind of group fully capable of shaking and toppling the minister by spreading rumors against him.”
After Mr. Cho joined Mr. Moon’s staff in 2017 as his chief legal counsel, many touted him as a possible successor. After Mr. Cho joined Mr. Moon’s staff in 2017 as his chief legal counsel, many saw him as a possible successor.
But his image soured drastically soon after Mr. Moon named him justice minister in August. News outlets began reporting on allegations of misdeeds by Mr. Cho or members of his family, including embezzlement and attempting to destroy evidence. But his image soured drastically soon after Mr. Moon named him justice minister in August. News outlets began reporting on allegations of misdeeds by Mr. Cho or members of his family, including embezzlement and trying to destroy evidence.
Most of the accusations remain unsubstantiated. But his wife has been indicted on a charge of forging a certificate to help their daughter get into medical school. Mr. Cho has denied any lawbreaking by family members, but he acknowledged that his daughter had benefited from advantages denied to other students — a sensitive matter in a country where anger over economic inequality runs high. College students began holding rallies against him and calling him a hypocrite.Most of the accusations remain unsubstantiated. But his wife has been indicted on a charge of forging a certificate to help their daughter get into medical school. Mr. Cho has denied any lawbreaking by family members, but he acknowledged that his daughter had benefited from advantages denied to other students — a sensitive matter in a country where anger over economic inequality runs high. College students began holding rallies against him and calling him a hypocrite.
As public anger over the various accusations grew, the chief prosecutor, Yoon Seok-yeol — another Moon appointee — assigned about 20 prosecutors to investigate Mr. Cho and his family.As public anger over the various accusations grew, the chief prosecutor, Yoon Seok-yeol — another Moon appointee — assigned about 20 prosecutors to investigate Mr. Cho and his family.
His apartment was raided and his children questioned. His wife, already under indictment, has been repeatedly interviewed by prosecutors seeking possible links to a relative who has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement.His apartment was raided and his children questioned. His wife, already under indictment, has been repeatedly interviewed by prosecutors seeking possible links to a relative who has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement.
As Mr. Cho’s supporters see it, the prosecutors are punishing him for finally enacting some of the reforms to their office that presidents have been promising for years.As Mr. Cho’s supporters see it, the prosecutors are punishing him for finally enacting some of the reforms to their office that presidents have been promising for years.
His ministry, for example, ended the humiliating practice of forcing people to stand before a bank of news cameras before entering a prosecutor’s office for questioning. A bill that would create an agency to investigate corruption among prosecutors, as well as other senior officials, is pending in Parliament. The bill is perhaps the most important part of the efforts by Mr. Moon and Mr. Cho to check prosecutors’ power.His ministry, for example, ended the humiliating practice of forcing people to stand before a bank of news cameras before entering a prosecutor’s office for questioning. A bill that would create an agency to investigate corruption among prosecutors, as well as other senior officials, is pending in Parliament. The bill is perhaps the most important part of the efforts by Mr. Moon and Mr. Cho to check prosecutors’ power.
But critics accuse Mr. Cho of trying to change the subject, noting that most of those actions were taken only after the allegations against him began getting attention.But critics accuse Mr. Cho of trying to change the subject, noting that most of those actions were taken only after the allegations against him began getting attention.
Before Mr. Cho was appointed, prosecutors’ relationship with the presidency had seemed as cordial as ever, despite Mr. Moon’s promises of change. They pursued an anticorruption campaign initiated by the president, which led to the imprisonment of two of his conservative predecessors — Ms. Park and Lee Myung-bak — as well as a former chief justice of the Supreme Court.Before Mr. Cho was appointed, prosecutors’ relationship with the presidency had seemed as cordial as ever, despite Mr. Moon’s promises of change. They pursued an anticorruption campaign initiated by the president, which led to the imprisonment of two of his conservative predecessors — Ms. Park and Lee Myung-bak — as well as a former chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Conservatives who had vilified Mr. Yoon, the top prosecutor, as Mr. Moon’s henchman are now hailing him as a hero for taking on Mr. Cho. And liberals who had cheered the convictions of the conservative ex-presidents are calling prosecutors “wolves” who are attempting “a coup d’état” against Mr. Moon.Conservatives who had vilified Mr. Yoon, the top prosecutor, as Mr. Moon’s henchman are now hailing him as a hero for taking on Mr. Cho. And liberals who had cheered the convictions of the conservative ex-presidents are calling prosecutors “wolves” who are attempting “a coup d’état” against Mr. Moon.
The rallies have drawn hundreds of thousands of people, at least; organizers on both sides say their crowds have topped two million. One side chants “Let’s defend Cho ​Kuk!” (His name, as it happens, sounds the same as the Korean word for “fatherland.”) The other shouts, “Arrest Cho Kuk!”The rallies have drawn hundreds of thousands of people, at least; organizers on both sides say their crowds have topped two million. One side chants “Let’s defend Cho ​Kuk!” (His name, as it happens, sounds the same as the Korean word for “fatherland.”) The other shouts, “Arrest Cho Kuk!”
The anti-Cho rallies have been led by ​evangelical Christian activists, joined by other conservatives — mostly older people — who have long opposed Mr. Moon’s economic policies and his conciliatory stance toward North Korea. A recent protest led by Mr. Jeon resembled a Christian revival meeting, with invocations of God’s blessing, choruses of “Hallelujah!” and staff members weaving through the crowd with cash donation boxes.The anti-Cho rallies have been led by ​evangelical Christian activists, joined by other conservatives — mostly older people — who have long opposed Mr. Moon’s economic policies and his conciliatory stance toward North Korea. A recent protest led by Mr. Jeon resembled a Christian revival meeting, with invocations of God’s blessing, choruses of “Hallelujah!” and staff members weaving through the crowd with cash donation boxes.
The pro-Cho crowds are more diverse, including many young, urban white-collar workers. Rock bands have performed at many of the rallies, with people in the crowd singing along and waving signs that read “We are Cho Kuk!”The pro-Cho crowds are more diverse, including many young, urban white-collar workers. Rock bands have performed at many of the rallies, with people in the crowd singing along and waving signs that read “We are Cho Kuk!”
“Prosecutors think that if they can force Cho Kuk out, they can stop the reform efforts and return to business as usual,” said Hwang Gyo-ik, a newspaper columnist, during a rally in support of the justice minister on Saturday.“Prosecutors think that if they can force Cho Kuk out, they can stop the reform efforts and return to business as usual,” said Hwang Gyo-ik, a newspaper columnist, during a rally in support of the justice minister on Saturday.
Hong Yoon-gi, a professor at Dongguk University, said that for many of those now supporting Mr. Cho, anger over his alleged misdeeds had been trumped by their loathing for the prosecutors.Hong Yoon-gi, a professor at Dongguk University, said that for many of those now supporting Mr. Cho, anger over his alleged misdeeds had been trumped by their loathing for the prosecutors.
“Prosecutors have always been an object of awe, hatred and fear,” Professor Hong said. “When people watched the way prosecutors conducted their investigation of Cho Kuk’s family, their hatred of his hypocrisy was overtaken by their fear of the prosecutors’ power.”“Prosecutors have always been an object of awe, hatred and fear,” Professor Hong said. “When people watched the way prosecutors conducted their investigation of Cho Kuk’s family, their hatred of his hypocrisy was overtaken by their fear of the prosecutors’ power.”