Cho Kuk Elected to Lead South Korea’s Fatherland Innovation Party

Low polling puts pressure on the new leader to broaden support before next year’s unified local elections.

Overview

The progressive minor opposition party selected the former justice minister at a Nov. 23 convention in Cheongju.
Korean media, cited in Kyodo’s Seoul dispatch, report the party’s support hovering around 2–4 percent.
Cho was the sole candidate for the leadership and won with overwhelming approval from party members.
In his speech, he emphasized decentralization reforms and vowed to establish a beachhead in the local contests.
Founded by Cho in 2024, the party is prioritizing greater visibility and expansion ahead of the nationwide vote.