All current and former Democratic Party lawmakers involved in the National Assembly fast-track clash have been sentenced to fines.
On December 19, the 12th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Jeong-gon) suspended the imposition of a 3 million won fine for lawmakers Park Beomgye and Park Jumin, who were indicted on charges of joint assault under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts. Kim Byungwook, Presidential Office Secretary for Political Affairs, was fined 10 million won, and former lawmaker Lee Jonggeol received a 5 million won fine. Former lawmaker Pyo Changwon also had a 3 million won fine suspended. The court imposed fines ranging from 2 million to 3 million won on the other aides and party officials who were indicted together.
The court explained the common sentencing reasons, stating, "The National Assembly is a core institution of representative democracy where bills are processed through dialogue, persuasion, compromise, and negotiation. Violent acts within the National Assembly cannot be justified. Despite being in positions where they were expected to uphold the rule of law, they forcibly pushed through legislation using violent means, betraying the Assembly's own responsibilities and undermining the public's trust and expectations in the National Assembly."
However, the court added, "It is a favorable circumstance that the incident was triggered by the special situation in which the proceedings were paralyzed due to the occupation of the Assembly by members of the Liberty Korea Party, that the acts occurred in the course of legislative activity rather than for personal gain, and that the need for sentencing parity with Liberty Korea Party members should be considered."
Regarding lawmakers Park Jumin, Park Beomgye, and former lawmaker Pyo Changwon, the court stated that the legitimacy of their actions lay in the purpose of securing the meeting room.
For former lawmaker Lee Jonggeol, the court noted, "Although it is an unfavorable circumstance that he exercised active physical force despite his status as a lawmaker, it is favorable that he was victimized by Liberty Korea Party members."
Regarding Secretary Kim Byungwook, the court explained, "At the time of the incident, he was in a leading position as the Democratic Party's deputy floor leader, and it is an unfavorable circumstance that lawmaker Kim Seunghee sustained injuries, which were not minor."
Current and Former Democratic Party Lawmakers: "Difficult to Accept the Verdict"
After the trial, lawmaker Park Jumin told reporters that it was difficult to accept the suspended sentence. Park said, "Ironically, the prosecution did not charge the actual perpetrators who violated the National Assembly Act, but instead brought absurd charges of assault against Democratic Party lawmakers and aides, including myself, who were trying to defend legitimate procedures. I will appeal and continue to prove that resisting violence that destroys democracy was justified."
Lawmaker Park Beomgye also expressed disappointment with the verdict. He said, "The indictment against us was a selective, discriminatory, and politically retaliatory prosecution targeting those lawmakers who led the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. In that sense, I had hoped the court would acquit us, but instead, the sentence was suspended."
Secretary Kim Byungwook stated, "There was no assault, and I was indicted by the political prosecution for matters that were not even investigated, yet I received a fine. I cannot accept the result of the trial." He added, "I will appeal to uncover the substantive truth."
The fast-track clash refers to the physical confrontation that occurred in April 2019, when the Democratic Party and the Liberty Korea Party clashed over whether to designate bills such as the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system as fast-track items.
They were indicted without detention in January 2020 on charges of assaulting or injuring Liberty Korea Party members in the process of responding to the Liberty Korea Party's obstruction of bill submissions and meetings during the 2019 National Assembly fast-track clash.
In the same case, 26 members of the People Power Party who were indicted also received fines in the first trial. Although the prosecution did not appeal the case, some defendants have appealed, and the second trial is expected to proceed.
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