Seoul: Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk was reinstated to the minor Rebuilding Korea Party on Thursday and was tapped to lead its policy think tank, six days after he was released from prison under a presidential pardon. The reinstatement occurred approximately eight months after Cho was expelled from the party, following a Supreme Court ruling last December that upheld a two-year prison sentence for academic fraud related to his children and unlawful interference with a government inspection.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to reinstate Cho was made during the party's supreme council meeting at the National Assembly. Officials stated that Cho is widely expected to reclaim the party chairmanship when the party holds a national convention in November to elect new leadership. Since his release on Friday, Cho has also hinted at the possibility of running in next year's local elections.