Bill to Establish Special Court for Insurrection Cases Submitted to Plenary Session... Opposition Criticizes "Democratic Party's Legislative Runaway Train"

The People Power Party criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for submitting a bill to establish a special court for insurrection cases to the plenary session on the 22nd, stating, “The Democratic Party’s legislative runaway train continues to race forward today without any intention of stopping,” and added, “History and the people will not forgive this.”

People Power Party lawmakers, including Floor Leader Song Eon-seok, are holding a rally condemning the "Lee Jae-myung administration's judicial destruction and the people's gagging bad law" ahead of the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. 2025.12.22 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

After concluding a general assembly of lawmakers at the main building of the National Assembly that morning, People Power Party members held a rally in front of the plenary chamber. They emphasized, “The Democratic Party is determined to push ahead with the special court for insurrection cases, despite opposition not only from the People Power Party but also from court presidents, judges at all levels, the legal community, academia, and even the Korea Innovation Party, all of whom have expressed concerns about its unconstitutionality.”

Park Hyungsoo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, stated in his condemnation speech, “The Democratic Party and the Lee Jaemyung faction, who have seized both legislative and executive power, now intend to bring the judiciary to its knees. Their aim is to prevent any rulings that go against their will and to ensure that no guilty verdict can ever be delivered against President Lee Jaemyung.”

Park continued, “Last week, the Supreme Court announced that it would create regulations to establish a special court for insurrection cases. This is partly a capitulation to the threats from the Democratic Party and President Lee, and partly a desperate measure to block the passage of an unconstitutional law to create such a court. Nevertheless, the Democratic Party is pushing ahead with this bill regardless.”

Park also criticized the proposed amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act, led by the Democratic Party, saying, “It is a law that destroys freedom of the press and freedom of expression and tightens the noose around journalists,” and added, “If judicial authority collapses and freedom of the press is lost, the Republic of Korea will remain under one-party rule by the Democratic Party and the sole dominance of Lee Jaemyung.”

Choi Hyungdoo, the People Power Party’s secretary on the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, stated, “There are two ways for an elected government to descend into dictatorship: destroying the judiciary and trampling on press freedom. Both of these are happening under the Lee Jaemyung administration and the Democratic Party led by Jeong Cheongrae.”

Choi further pointed out, “Even progressive civic groups and the journalists’ union oppose the forced passage of the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act, which seeks to impose punitive damages five times greater for false or manipulated information. If punitive damages are used to silence journalists, the consequences will be dire.”

He continued, “Those in power will not stop at imprisoning or suing journalists for damages over reports or statements; they will now impose enormous financial penalties that can ruin journalists’ homes and bankrupt media companies. What they are aiming for is the chilling effect and the silencing of the press.”