Former Secretary to Rep. Chae I-bae: "Korean Party Controlled Access During PAT Clash"

Appearance of People Power Party Official as Witness in Trial Related to National Assembly Fast-Track Clash

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Court testimony has revealed that Liberty Korea Party (now People Power Party) lawmakers grabbed the door handles of offices to block entry during the National Assembly fast-track clash.

A, who worked as a secretary in former lawmaker Chae Yi-bae's office, appeared as a witness on the 15th at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Sung Bo-gi) for the trial of former lawmaker Na Kyung-won and others, testifying about the scuffle that occurred on April 25, 2019, in former lawmaker Chae's office.

A testified, "When I arrived at the office in the morning, I saw that lawmakers from the Liberty Korea Party were inside former lawmaker Chae's office," adding, "The Liberty Korea Party side controlled the door and verified the identities of those entering."

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

A said, "When some lawmakers left their seats during lunch, former lawmaker Chae attempted to escape, and the secretaries also tried to clear a path," adding, "I was outside at the time and did not see inside the office, but I heard sounds like a scuffle and loud shouting."

He continued, "Lawmakers including Lee Eun-jae held onto the door handles and refused to open the door, so the attempt to get out ultimately failed," and "After that, access to the office was completely blocked."

A also explained, "Even long after the meeting was supposed to start, the confinement continued, so former lawmaker Chae's side called the police to escape," adding, "When the dispatched police tried to break the window and tear down the door, only then did they move the sofas blocking the door and open it."

Meanwhile, former lawmaker Na and others were indicted on charges including confining former lawmaker Chae, who had been replaced as a member of the Sage Special Committee to prevent the designation of the election reform bill as a fast-track agenda by the four ruling and opposition parties during the 2019 fast-track clash incident.

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