First Trial Verdict to Be Delivered 6 Years and 7 Months After the Fast-Track Clash Incident
The first trial verdict for the "National Assembly Fast-Track Clash" case, involving the leadership and lawmakers of the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, is scheduled for November 20. Prosecutors have requested prison sentences for a large number of those involved.
On September 15, during the sentencing hearing at the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Chan), prosecutors requested a two-year prison sentence for Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon, who was the Liberty Korea Party's floor leader at the time, and a one year and six months prison sentence for Hwang Kyoahn, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party.
The prosecution also requested a 10-month prison sentence and a fine of 2 million won for Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party; a 10-month prison sentence and a fine of 3 million won each for Assemblymen Lee Manhee and Kim Jeongjae; a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 3 million won for Assemblyman Yoon Hanhong; and a fine of 3 million won for Assemblyman Lee Cheolgyu.
In addition, prosecutors asked the court to impose a fine of 5 million won on Lee Jangwoo, the current mayor of Daejeon, and a fine of 3 million won on Kim Taeheum, governor of South Chungcheong Province.
The court has set November 20 as the date for the first trial verdict in this case. This comes approximately six years and seven months after the incident occurred.
A total of 27 individuals, including those mentioned above, were indicted on charges of confining Assemblyman Chae Ibae of the Bareunmirae Party in his office in 2019, as well as occupying the Bill Processing Office and the meeting rooms of the Special Committees on Political and Judicial Reform, thereby obstructing the submission of bills and the holding of meetings. At the time, the ruling and opposition parties were engaged in a dispute over whether to pursue fast-track legislation for the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and the introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system. Among the defendants, former Assemblyman Jang Jewon was excluded from prosecution due to his passing.
Elected public officials are stripped of their positions if they receive a sentence of imprisonment or higher in a criminal case. For lawmakers, according to the National Assembly Act, a fine of 5 million won or more also results in loss of office.
In her final statement, Assemblywoman Na said, "This case is not a matter for judicial judgment, but belongs in the political realm," adding, "The mixed-member proportional representation system and the Corruption Investigation Office Act were unconstitutional bills." She asked the court to make a wise decision.
Floor leader Song stated, "I believed that the fast-track procedure itself violated the National Assembly Act and the Constitution, and that it was my responsibility to ensure that politics moved in the right direction." Hwang said, "If political conflict is punished as a criminal case, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea will no longer truly represent the people."
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