Joguk Innovation Party Files Defamation Charges Against Joo Jin-woo, Legal Chairman of People Power Party

Ruling Party Files Complaint Against Lee Jaemyung, Kim Eojun, and Others for 'Conspiracy to Commit Rebellion'

On the 31st, the Joguk Innovation Party filed a police complaint against Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, all first-term lawmakers, broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, and 72 others for 'conspiracy to commit rebellion,' and filed a counter-complaint against Joo Jin-woo, the legal committee chairman of the People Power Party, for 'false accusation.'

Acting Representative Kim Seon-min (second from right) of the Party for National Innovation and lawmakers are heading to the civil affairs office on the 31st at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to file a complaint against Joo Jin-woo, the legal advisory committee chairman of the People Power Party, who accused Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, all first-term Democratic lawmakers, broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, and 72 others of conspiring to commit insurrection. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Seon-min, acting leader of the Innovation Party, and Cha Gyu-geun, chairman of the Policy Committee, visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the afternoon and held a press conference, stating, "We are filing a complaint against Joo Jin-woo, legal committee chairman of the People Power Party, for false accusation under Article 156 of the Criminal Act."

Chairman Cha said, "As a former prosecutor, Representative Joo cannot be unaware that the complaint regarding conspiracy to commit rebellion does not meet the legal requirements stipulated in the Criminal Act," adding, "Therefore, today's complaint is nothing but absurd nonsense."

He continued, "The elements of the crime of rebellion mean attempting to incite a riot with the intent to usurp the national territory or disrupt the constitutional order," and questioned, "How can mentioning that Acting President Han Deok-soo can exercise the powers of the National Assembly according to the procedures prescribed by the Constitution and laws, despite the Constitutional Court's decision, be considered rebellion?"

He further stated, "It is a politically very irresponsible act that fuels extreme national conflict," and emphasized, "The People Power Party, including Representative Joo Jin-woo, who have recklessly and maliciously filed false accusations, must bear legal and political responsibility."

He added, "Today, the Joguk Innovation Party intends to file a false accusation complaint against Representative Joo Jin-woo and others to completely correct their bad habits," and noted, "The penalty for false accusation is imprisonment for up to 10 years or a fine of up to 15 million won."

Earlier, Chairman Joo explained the reason for the complaint through a media notice in the morning, stating, "If Acting President Han Deok-soo does not appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court Justice (candidate), he explicitly declared that he would push for the impeachment of the Acting President and all former Cabinet members, aiming to paralyze government functions," and "They conspired and resolved to make it impossible for state institutions to exercise their normal powers for an extended period."