"Apple Priority" vs "Diluting Democratic Party" Na Kyung-won, Dispute Between Ruling and Opposition Over Citizen Group Lawsuit

Former Future United Party (now People Power Party) lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who was indicted over the 20th National Assembly fast-track (rapid processing agenda) clash incident, is responding to reporters' questions before attending the first trial held at the Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 21st of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Su-wan] Former Future United Party (now People Power Party) lawmaker Na Kyung-won has filed a complaint with the prosecution against the head of a civic group and the media who raised allegations of her children's admission irregularities, sparking divided opinions within the political sphere. The ruling party strongly criticized former lawmaker Na, saying, "It is truly absurd for a public figure to have no shame," while the opposition harshly condemned the move, accusing the ruling party of using Na as a scapegoat to manipulate public opinion for political purposes.

On the 11th, Jo Eun-joo, youth spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, stated in a commentary directed at former lawmaker Na, "Accepting criticism of one's official duties with more flexibility is a basic attitude that public figures must have," and added, "We express deep regret over the attitude of responding with lawsuits without apologizing for inappropriate conduct or causing controversy as a public figure regarding the civic society and media's raising of issues about the children's admission irregularities."

She continued, "Filing a lawsuit against the accuser who points out inappropriate behavior as a public figure and demands fulfillment of social responsibilities is a highly concerning act as it could suppress the legitimate role of civic society and the media," and emphasized, "We must not turn a blind eye to the special favors and corruption, which are harmful to our society, with a hypocritical attitude."

Earlier, former lawmaker Na filed a counter-lawsuit against Ahn Jin-geol, director of the People's Livelihood Economy Research Institute, who had filed 13 complaints against her including allegations of children's admission irregularities and private school corruption, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation.

In response, spokesperson Jo emphasized, "Regardless of the right or wrong of the special favors, the priority should be to offer a sincere apology to the public for causing controversy."

On the 12th, Shin Dong-geun, a Supreme Council member of the same party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, "It is unlikely that former lawmaker Na's counter-lawsuit against the accuser and lawsuits against reporters will serve as grounds for her innocence," and criticized, "She seems to have an unfounded confidence regarding the accusations against her."

He added sarcastically, "About a year has passed since the first accusation, but former lawmaker Na has never been summoned by the prosecution, while Director Ahn has been investigated 10 times. The lead prosecutor in charge has changed five times," and said, "It is understandable why she might have confidence without grounds."

Supreme Council member Shin continued, "However, the reality seems not to support that confidence," and added, "In the lawsuit filed by former lawmaker Na against NewsTapa's report on her daughter's irregular admission to Sungshin Women's University, the court ruled not guilty up to the second trial but expressed the opinion that 'there was admission fraud.' It will soon become clear whether former lawmaker Na's confidence is justified or just bluster."

On the same day, Supreme Council member Roh Woong-rae said, "Last week, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, claimed that former lawmaker Na was being used as a scapegoat to mislead the media," and criticized, "It is laughable to call former lawmaker Na a scapegoat when only the accuser has been investigated for over a year."

Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the People Power Party / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The People Power Party criticized that the investigation into various allegations, including preferential treatment in the military service of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae's son, ended with no charges, and accused the ruling party of using former lawmaker Na as a scapegoat to cover this up.

On the 6th, Floor Leader Joo Ho-young said at the National Assembly inspection countermeasure meeting, "Just looking at the case of Minister Choo's son, which ended with no charges after a nine-month slow investigation, there is no need to say more about how much the South Korean judicial system has already lost its political neutrality," and criticized, "Looking at the recent behavior of the prosecution, it is turning into Minister Choo's private army and personal guard."

He continued, "The Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, by conducting a 'ministerial immunity investigation,' has driven a nail into the hearts of parents who sent their children to the military, and now it is carrying out a planned investigation to divert attention," and claimed, "It is obvious that they intend to use former lawmaker Na, a former floor leader of our party, as a scapegoat to mislead public opinion and cover up the administration's scandals."

He added, "The public knows well what kind of outrageous covert investigation is underway within the prosecution," and said, "It is said that the prosecution under this administration could not find any charges against former lawmaker Na for a while internally. However, after suffering the embarrassment of having many search warrants rejected while trying to conduct forced searches, they are desperately trying to fabricate crimes that do not exist."

In response to the criticism, former lawmaker Na posted on her Facebook on the 12th, saying, "Now even the Democratic Party's Supreme Council members are giving the prosecution a 'Na Kyung-won investigation guideline,'" and criticized, "Supreme Council member Shin Dong-geun calls my self-assertion of innocence 'bluster' and says it will soon be revealed. This time, they are trying to block even my defense. The power of the ruling party's Supreme Council members is so terrifying."

Former lawmaker Na raised her voice, saying, "It is no different from Minister Choo and the prosecution moving together to threaten me with fabricating crimes I do not have," and asked, "If this is not an investigation guideline, then what is it?"

She also criticized, "A person who even served as a public official candidate committee member of the Democratic Party has been filing numerous complaints and accusations against me. And the Democratic Party has been using this to divert attention at every opportunity," and added, "Unable to stand it any longer, I stepped forward to prove my innocence. Then the Democratic Party started suppressing me again through spokesperson comments, Supreme Council remarks, and all-out attacks."

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