Police decide not to refer Na Kyung-won over alleged request to drop fast-track indictment

According to Financial News, police have cleared Representative Na Kyung-won of allegations that she sought to have the indictment in the National Assembly fast-track case dropped during the People Power Party leadership primary.
The Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station announced on the 6th that it decided on the 3rd not to refer Na's case to prosecutors. She had been accused of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and obstructing the performance of official duties.
During a People Power Party leadership debate in July 2024, former party leader Han Dong-hoon alleged that, when he was justice minister, Na asked him to cancel the indictment related to the National Assembly fast-track case.
At the time, Na explained that it was not an improper solicitation, but a request to correct what she called an unconstitutional indictment. Nevertheless, the Democratic Party of Korea filed a criminal complaint against her.
Police concluded that Na's actions did not constitute a crime, noting that the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act does not provide for criminal punishment for solicitations made without any quid pro quo.
However, because the act of making a solicitation itself can be subject to an administrative fine, police said they notified the Speaker of the National Assembly of the matter.
Na was also accused of obstructing Han's performance of his ministerial duties. Police found that, in the absence of violence, threats, or similar conduct, the elements of the offense were not met and therefore also cleared her of obstruction of official duties.
The 2019 National Assembly fast-track clash refers to a physical confrontation between ruling and opposition parties in 2019 over bills to establish the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and introduce a linked proportional representation system.
As a result of that incident, Na, who was then the floor leader of the opposition party, was sentenced in the first trial last November to a total fine of 24 million won. She has appealed the ruling.
psh@fnnews.com Park Sung-hyun Reporter