Prosecutors Seek 'Disqualification Sentence' for 2 Korean Party Lawmakers in 'Fast-Track Clash' Case

Jang Je-won and Hong Cheol-ho Prosecuted for Violating National Assembly Act with 5 Million Won Fine
Loss of Eligibility and Assembly Seat upon Confirmation... Court Decision Awaited

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The prosecution has requested fines equivalent to 'disqualification from election' for lawmakers Jang Je-won and Hong Cheol-ho among the nine Liberty Korea Party lawmakers who were summarily indicted on charges of violating the National Assembly Act in connection with the so-called 'National Assembly Fast Track (Rapid Processing Agenda) Clash Incident.'

According to multiple Liberty Korea Party lawmakers, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office summarily indicted nine Liberty Korea Party lawmakers on the 2nd, requesting a fine of 5 million won for lawmakers Jang Je-won and Hong Cheol-ho, and fines ranging from 1 million to 3 million won for the remaining seven.

Article 166 of the National Assembly Act stipulates that anyone who commits violent acts with the intent to disrupt National Assembly meetings shall be punished by imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 10 million won. If a fine of 5 million won or more is confirmed under this provision, the right to be elected and the position as a lawmaker are lost.

Summary indictment is a procedure in which the prosecution requests the court to impose fines or penalties through written examination instead of a trial. The party involved can request a formal trial within seven days after receiving the summary order notification to claim innocence. Within the party, there are mixed expectations that the court will issue the summary order after the April general election or may reach a conclusion before the regular court personnel changes in February.

The Liberty Korea Party is reportedly considering hiring not only lawyers from the party's legal advisory committee but also external law firms to respond. They are also focusing on identifying the amounts requested in summary indictments for other charges besides the National Assembly Act and the reasons for non-prosecution of some lawmakers.

Earlier, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, after investigating the physical clashes between ruling and opposition lawmakers over the designation of the fast track for the revision of the Public Official Election Act and the establishment of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Public Officials Crime Investigation Act) in April last year, referred Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn and 13 lawmakers to trial and summarily indicted 10 lawmakers on the 2nd.

Among the 10 lawmakers summarily indicted, nine are charged with violating the National Assembly Act, excluding proportional representative lawmaker Kim Seong-tae. Lawmaker Kim Seong-tae faces charges of obstruction of official duties and concealment of official documents. In his case, a prison sentence or higher must be confirmed for disqualification from election.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.