Na Kyung-won’s 'Fraudulent Impeachment' Remark Sparks Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Parties: "Is He Really a Former Judge?" vs. "Opposition Crosses the Line"

Opposition Party Mentions "Pparu" to Na Kyung-won Over Alleged Violation of Advancement Law
Amid Continued Shouting, Kwon Seong-dong Protests to Woo Won-shik

On the 9th, the National Assembly conducted an urgent inquiry regarding the December 3 emergency martial law and the passenger plane disaster. When Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out that the charge of treason was withdrawn from the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol, calling it a "hasty impeachment trial by the Constitutional Court," the ruling and opposition parties clashed loudly.

On the afternoon of the 9th, during a question session related to 'President Yoon Seok-yeol's unconstitutional declaration of martial law and charges of rebellion, as well as the investigation into the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster' at the National Assembly plenary session, as opposition party members continued to protest, Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader, was seen speaking to National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik. Photo by Yonhap News

From the moment Na began speaking during the inquiry, opposition party members shouted. They reacted against Na's past remarks. When the National Assembly's impeachment prosecution team withdrew the treason charge from the impeachment motion against President Yoon, Na had criticized it as a "national treason fraud." Opposition members raised their voices, saying, "Are you really a former judge?" and "Please leave!"

The opposition also brought up Na's 2019 fast-track disruption incidents related to the election law and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency Act. Na is currently on trial for violating the National Assembly Advancement Act after occupying and staging a sit-in at the National Assembly while holding a so-called 'pparu' (crowbar). When opposition members mentioned the 'pparu,' Na responded, "The 'pparu' was brought in by the Democratic Party."

The opposition's loud protests continued throughout Na's questioning. Na told Kim Jeong-won, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court, "If the treason charge is removed from the impeachment motion, the identity of the prosecution is not maintained," adding, "That's why people say it's a fraudulent impeachment and prosecution." As opposition members continued to protest, Na asked Speaker Woo, "Please quiet them down; I cannot speak." Speaker Woo requested the opposition to be quiet, saying, "This is the time to question the government," but the loudness did not easily subside.

Na also raised suspicions to Secretary General Kim, asking, "Is the Constitutional Court rushing the impeachment trial to keep pace with the trial of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, for violating the Public Official Election Act?" Kim replied, "We are conducting the impeachment trial fairly, keeping your concerns in mind," but the opposition protested. Opposition members shouted, "(Na) should remove his assembly badge and become Yoon Suk-yeol's lawyer," and "Hurry up and face your own trial for violating the National Assembly Advancement Act."

As opposition members continued to resist, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, even climbed onto the speaker's podium to protest. The opposition shouted at Kwon, "Accomplice to treason!" and "Go back to your seat!" Na said, "Recent remarks by opposition members have gone too far," which further intensified the opposition's backlash.

Na concluded the urgent inquiry by asking Acting Commissioner Lee Ho-young of the National Police Agency about suspicions of police collusion involving Democratic Party member Lee Sang-sik. Speaker Woo asked Na, who was leaving without greeting him, "Aren't you going to greet me?" Na did not respond immediately but eventually greeted before leaving the plenary hall.