Cheongju: The minor Rebuilding Korea Party has elected former Justice Minister Cho Kuk as its leader, receiving an overwhelming 98.6 percent approval from party members during a national convention. The event took place in Cheongju, located 137 kilometers south of Seoul, with Cho standing as the sole candidate in the leadership election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho Kuk, in his acceptance speech, expressed his commitment to forging a new path distinct from the major political parties. He emphasized that his leadership would be guided solely by the will of the people. He declared the party's intent to initiate reforms across various sectors, including politics, people's livelihoods, the economy, society, and human rights.

Cho Kuk's return to the political arena follows his release through a special presidential pardon in August. He had been serving a two-year prison sentence for charges related to academic fraud involving his children and unlawful interference with a government inspection. In September, Cho took the helm of the party's interim leadership committee to navigate the party through challenges stemming from a sexual misconduct scandal.