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| Since it was introduced in July 2017 to mark the 100th day since Moon's swearing in as president, the petition site has given ordinary citizens a chance to speak up on policy issues. gettyimagesbank |
Star petitioner featured as columnist at influential Korean daily
By Kang Hyun-kyung
"A man, who was once politically powerful enough to influence others but disturbed many of us (with his flawed ethics and double standard on justice), is said to have released a memoir. We've been told that over 100,000 copies have been sold so far… Sorry but I should say that his memoir doesn't deserve to be called a book. Rather, it's a collection of meaningless pieces written only to curry favor with a handful of die-hard supporters of President Moon Jae-in."
This is what a man who identifies himself by his pen name Jo Eun-san, wrote in his regular column published Friday on the website of the Chosun Ilbo, one of the nation's most influential dailies.
Under the title of "Memoir of a Once-powerful Man," he criticized former Justice Minister Cho Kuk for disturbing the Korean public with the recent release of his book, "Cho Kuk's Time: Pains, Truth and Untold Thoughts." Cho is on trial now for his alleged roles in various illicit activities, including abuse of power.
Jo's column is indirect and rather poetic, but his points are clearly stinging and pungent. In an unequivocal tone, he rebuked the former justice minister for his unrepentant demeanor and self-justification of his "dubious past."
Jo's column is the most read article of the day on the Chosun Ilbo website. Dozens of readers have reacted favorably to his column. One wrote, "Thank you for your heart-felt column." Another wrote, "Truth being told."
Jo is a new columnist at the conservative newspaper.
He was a star petitioner who rose to fame through the "Dear Mr. President" website. His eloquent presidential petition, titled "Simu chil-jo," tentatively translated into Seven-Point Proposal to the president, he uploaded on the presidential petition website in August, last year, went viral.
In the lengthy, hilarious but polite petition emulating what ranking officials of the Joseon Dynasty would have done when they proposed certain things to their kings, Jo mocked President Moon's policy failures in housing and real estate issues, alleged diplomatic miscalculation with his heavy emphasis on mending ties with China while neglecting Korea-U.S. relations, and proposed a set or measures to fix them and make the country better for the people.
He was quoted in many media outlets. His following petitions were also extensively reported.
Over 430,000 people signed up for his initial petition, which obligated the presidential office to respond to his requests.
On Oct. 23, Kang Jung-soo, head of the presidential office's center for digital communications, said the Moon government appreciated the petitioner for his thoughtful recommendations.
Instead of giving direct answers to each of seven points, Kang said the government would continue to make efforts to stabilize housing issues for middle-income earners, the working class, youth and socially marginalized people.
Since it was introduced in July 2017 to mark the 100th day since Moon's swearing in as president, the petition site has given ordinary citizens a chance to speak up on policy issues. The presidential office pledged that petitions that successfully garnered 200,000 or more supporters would be answered.
The presidential office's response to Jo's petition, albeit diplomatic and without any concrete substance, came against this backdrop.
Despite fame, details of Jo's identity, including his real name, remain largely unknown. Few people know exactly how old he is and what he does for a living.
In a brief media interview last year, he said he is a breadwinner living in the western port city of Incheon and raises two children with his wife. He said he was once a construction worker, but declined to give any further details about himself and his family.
His meteoric rise to the status of a star commentator through several popular presidential petitions helped him find a job as a columnist contributing his writing regularly to one of the largest media outlets in Korea. Details of his contract are unknown. But in this capacity, he is in a position to make his voice heard.
This reporter contacted him for an interview about his dramatic career transition from a grassroots citizen to an attention-drawing commentator. Declining the offer, he said he was grateful for the "wonderful opportunity," but was unavailable for the interview request for unspecified personal reasons.
