'Fast-track System Clash': Na Kyung-won, Song Eon-seok, Hwang Kyo-ahn and Others Fined in First Trial

[Financial News] The leadership of the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, who were indicted over the 2019 National Assembly Fast-track system clash between the ruling and opposition parties, have received fines in the first trial.
On the 20th, the Criminal Agreement Division 11 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Chan) held a sentencing hearing for Na Kyung-won, a People Power Party lawmaker (former Liberty Korea Party floor leader), Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of Freedom & Innovation (former Liberty Korea Party leader), and 26 other Liberty Korea Party affiliates, who were charged with obstruction of official duties and violation of the National Assembly Act.
The court imposed a total fine of 24 million won on Na Kyung-won and 19 million won on Hwang Kyo-ahn. Song Eon-seok, the current floor leader of the People Power Party, was fined 11.5 million won.
Lee Man Hee, Kim Jong-jae, Yoon Han-hong, and Lee Cheol-gyu, who were also tried, were fined 8.5 million, 11.5 million, 7.5 million, and 5.5 million won, respectively. Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon, and Kim Tae-heum, Governor of South Chungcheong Province, were fined 7.5 million and 1.5 million won, respectively.
Six incumbent People Power Party lawmakers received fines of 5 million won or less for violating the National Assembly Act, allowing them to retain their parliamentary seats.
The court stated, "This case marks the first instance in which the National Assembly itself violated its own decision-making procedures established to restore public trust, thereby undermining confidence in the legislature. The defendants, as lawmakers who are required to uphold the Constitution, used illegal means to obstruct the legislative activities and operations of their colleagues. Their culpability is not minor, and they deserve strong criticism."
They were indicted for confining Chae Yi-bae, a Bareunmirae Party lawmaker, in his office and occupying the Bill Division office, as well as the meeting rooms of the Special Committee on Political Reform and the Special Committee on Judicial Reform in April 2019.
At the time, the ruling and opposition parties clashed fiercely over whether to place bills such as the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the introduction of the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System on the Fast-track system. In January 2020, prosecutors brought 27 individuals, including Hwang Kyo-ahn, Na Kyung-won, Liberty Korea Party lawmakers, and their aides, to trial without detention. Among them, the late Chang Je-won, a former People Power Party lawmaker, passed away and the charges against him were dismissed.
Previously, at the sentencing hearing in September, prosecutors requested a prison sentence of one year and six months for Hwang Kyo-ahn and two years for Na Kyung-won. They also sought 10 months in prison and a 2 million won fine for floor leader Song Eon-seok, and 10 months in prison and a 3 million won fine for Lee Man Hee and Kim Jong-jae. For Yoon Han-hong, prosecutors requested six months in prison and a 3 million won fine, and for Lee Cheol-gyu, a 3 million won fine.
After the sentencing, Na Kyung-won told reporters, "I deeply regret that a political case was dragged through the courts for six years," adding, "It is disappointing that a not-guilty verdict was not reached." She continued, "I believe it is significant that the court recognized the minimum means to prevent the Democratic Party’s unilateral actions. I will consider whether to appeal further."
Hwang Kyo-ahn stated, "The law has collapsed. Liberal democracy has collapsed," and expressed his intention to appeal, saying, "I will fight to the end."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yoo-ha, Park Sung-hyun Reporter