Representative Cho Gab-je. Yonhap News 

Poet · ColumnistCho Gab-je called the patriotic right-wingers currently fighting in the streets "cockroaches of history." While evaluations of phenomena and realities are free, his assessment of the patriotic right-wingers is absolutely unforgivable.

Cho Gab-je, like the author, was once labeled "far-right." The author and Cho Gab-je met through the anti-Korean Teachers' Union movement. It has been over 20 years. At the time, Cho Gab-je was a pioneer who supplied fervent fuel to the hearts of the patriotic right-wing.

The author turned his back on Cho Gab-je when he began engaging in pro-Japanese activities. This was during the presidency of Lee Myung-bak. Japanese far-right capital entered the country, and predatory private financial businesses like Sanwa Money were flourishing. The Japanese far-right forces were co-opting influential figures active in Korean politics and media through the money earned from private lending.

Cho Gab-je was one of the individuals invited to Japan by the Japanese far-right forces around that time. And he transformed into a pro-Japanese figure. One business figure who was invited to Japan and returned at the time even defended whaling, which was globally condemned.

"There are whales aplenty in the seas near Antarctica right now. So, I think catching a few is fine."

That businessman was brainwashed exactly as Japan had shown and taught him. Cho Gab-je was someone who went through the same process.

That year, when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, he foamed at the mouth directed at Dong-A Ilbo, Chosun Ilbo, and JoongAng Ilbo, which were reporting on the disaster. He seemed to have thought that the earthquake reports contained a hint of gloating. However, we united in our hearts for the fundraising efforts to recover from the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Cho Gab-je called us far-right, cockroaches of history, yet he himself was brainwashed by the Japanese far-right and turned into a pro-Japanese collaborator.

Cho Gab-je actively supported the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. While President Yoon Suk-yeol faced a relentless series of impeachment attempts, and the Democratic Party launched over 30 impeachment riots against the Yoon administration's cabinet, and the special activity fund for the Presidential Office's operation was deleted, preventing it from functioning, Cho Gab-je, all the while observing these events, began to curse the conservative patriotic right-wing. What came out of his mouth was not criticism, but abuse.

Cho Gab-je actively defended the National Election Commission (NEC), stating that there was no election fraud.

There are abundant examples of election fraud revealed so far. Ballot papers with only cabbage leaves on them, un-cut ballots, memory paper that does not fold, and a case where someone born during the reign of King Sunjo of Joseon cast a vote are all clear examples of election fraud. Especially, cases where the number of voters exceeded the number of eligible voters in a region require no further explanation.

Cho Gab-je ignored all of this. The NEC's fraudulent hiring practices are so severe that the NEC is criticized as a family company. Even so, is Cho Gab-je living with his eyes closed to the world we inhabit?

Cho Gab-je was someone who actively propagated that there was no North Korean involvement in the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. However, the historical perception of the May 18 Uprising is changing. It is important to remember that the May 18 Uprising was not a non-violent, peaceful movement.

"Jo Gap Ji" is a dialect of clams in the southern region of Korea. Clams are also a metaphorical reference to women. Ancient people found reasons to compare women to clams in their appearance and ecology. The author calls Cho Gab-je "Jo Gap Ji," not just because of the phonetic similarity. It is because his flexible and adaptable life, sometimes being a patriotic right-winger, sometimes a pro-Japanese collaborator, and sometimes a defender of the NEC, resembles the tongue of a clam. In short, he can only be seen as a political prostitute and a turncoat.

It's fine for Cho Gab-je to call the author a far-right cockroach. I've been attacked so much that it doesn't feel like anything anymore. However, what about Representative Ko Young-joo of the Free Democratic Party, Dr. Kim Sun-ho of the 300 Free Intellectuals, and Kwon Soon-hwal, former senior correspondent for Dong-A Ilbo, who are still leading the charge for patriotism in their old age?

And what about our younger colleagues, like reporter Lee Young-pung, YouTube channel "Young Perspective," lawyer Seo Jeong-wook, lawyers Kim Tae-woo and Bae Seung-hee, Kim Young-hyun, and reporter Min Deul-re of News Daily Best?

Cho Gab-je, with his white hair and wrinkled face, nothing has changed from 20 years ago. However, his mind is now filled with the ugliness of a turncoat.

Now, a problem is arising within the heart of South Korea's defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which is responsible for the nation's security. It is said that about 40 generals responsible for strategy are being expelled. The JCS is being devastated, with seven four-star generals resigning at once. Were these generals not the best strategic assets that South Korea has nurtured for so long?

While Cho Gab-je has recently criticized the prosecution's decision to drop the appeal in the Daejang-dong case involving Lee Jae-myung, this too indicates a problem with his belief system. His perspective, seen in his fluctuating behavior, can only be described as truly superficial and crude.

In a situation where the dictatorship of the Lee Jae-myung regime is becoming concrete, I heard that Jung Gyu-jae and Cho Gab-je sat together for dinner at Lee Jae-myung's invitation. It seems the food went down their throats.

Jeong Jae-hak, Poet · Columnist