Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal by Cho Wonjin
Upholds Original Ruling and Fine for Aiding National Assembly Intrusion
A fine has been finalized for Cho Won-jin, the leader of the Our Republican Party, who was prosecuted for aiding and abetting supporters' intrusion into the National Assembly in opposition to the establishment of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gongsoocheo) and the introduction of a linked proportional representation system.
According to the legal community on the 16th, the Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Judge Park Young-jae) confirmed on the 27th of last month the original court ruling that sentenced Cho, who was indicted for aiding and abetting violation of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes, etc. (joint trespassing), to a fine of 5 million won.
On December 13, 2019, Cho held a press conference opposing the Gongsoocheo establishment law in front of the National Assembly main building. After the press conference, about 200 party members who were with him attempted to enter the National Assembly, and he was prosecuted for aiding and abetting this attempt. In particular, Cho physically clashed with the National Assembly security guards along with those who attended the press conference.
In court, Cho claimed that as a sitting member of the National Assembly, he was unfairly blocked by the security guards from entering the main building and that he only struggled as a form of protest, but this was not accepted.
The first and second trials recognized Cho's charges as guilty and sentenced him to a fine of 5 million won. Cho appealed, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finding no issues with the second trial's ruling.
Meanwhile, Oh Kyung-hoon, a former lawmaker who was Cho's chief secretary, also had a fine of 4 million won finalized.
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