"Don't Back Down" Na Kyung-won, Evidence of Directing Chae Yi-bae's Detention Revealed in 'Fast-Track' Indictment

<기사> Korean Party Lawmakers Investigated for Receiving Instructions via Phone from Na Kyung-won, Then Floor Leader

Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is attending the members' meeting held on the 9th at the National Assembly for the election of the floor leader and is giving an opening speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] It has been revealed that Na Kyung-won, former floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party, played a leading role in obstructing the ruling party's fast-track processing, including the confinement of Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Chae Yi-bae, during the National Assembly fast-track (rapid processing agenda) clash in April last year.

According to the indictment on charges of obstruction of official duties against Liberty Korea Party lawmakers recently submitted by the prosecution to the National Assembly, Na, who was the floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party at the time, was investigated to have specifically ordered the confinement of lawmaker Chae.

On April 25 last year, during the fast-track clash, Na reportedly instructed by phone to the Liberty Korea Party lawmakers who confined lawmaker Chae in his office not to back down, saying, "You must not retreat here," and "Whether the police break down the door and drag them out, the scene must be visible," thereby ordering them to maintain the confinement situation, the prosecution understood.

On that day, lawmaker Chae had been replaced as a member of the Bareunmirae Party's Special Committee on Judicial Reform (Sage Special Committee) around 9 a.m. and was supposed to attend the Sage Special Committee bill meeting scheduled for 1 p.m., but his attendance was delayed due to confinement by Liberty Korea Party lawmakers.

When lawmaker Chae requested around 3 p.m. that day to be released from confinement, saying he would break the glass and leave if necessary, the Liberty Korea Party lawmakers called Na and received instructions, the prosecution judged.

The prosecution believes that the Liberty Korea Party lawmakers at the scene actually maintained the confinement of lawmaker Chae according to Na's instructions.

The indictment stated that Na repeatedly emphasized the importance of the operation to delay the fast-track processing.

When ruling party lawmakers agreed to the rapid processing agenda, Na repeatedly made statements such as "We will thoroughly block the fast-track movement" and "We must block it at all costs" during a media interview on April 22, an "emergency party meeting to block the fast-track" on the 23rd, and on the same day at a "fast-track condemnation rally" and an "emergency party meeting," leading the effort to block the fast-track.

It was also understood that Hwang Kyo-ahn, the party leader, repeatedly said things like "I will stand at the forefront of the fight using all means available to me" and "There must be no gaps in our ranks."

The prosecution concluded that Liberty Korea Party lawmakers shared instructions from the party leader and floor leadership through KakaoTalk group chats and group text messages, and engaged in acts such as occupying the site or obstructing its takeover.

On the 2nd, the prosecution filed non-custodial indictments or summary indictments against 23 Liberty Korea Party lawmakers including Na, 5 Democratic Party lawmakers, and party leader Hwang on charges of obstruction of official duties, violation of the National Assembly Act, and disruption of National Assembly meetings. A total of eight others, including three Liberty Korea Party aides and party officials and five Democratic Party aides and party officials, were also indicted or summary indicted.

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