'Fast-Track Clash': Na Kyungwon Fined 24 Million Won, Song Eonseok Fined 11.5 Million Won... Lawmakers Retain Seats

Six incumbent lawmakers, including Na Kyungwon of the People Power Party and Song Eonseok, the party's floor leader, who were involved in the National Assembly fast-track clash, have been sentenced to fines and will retain their parliamentary seats.

Yonhap News

On November 20, the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Chan) sentenced Assemblywoman Na to a fine of 20 million won for obstruction of special official duties and related charges, and an additional fine of 4 million won for violating the National Assembly Act. Song Eonseok, the People Power Party floor leader who was indicted alongside her, was fined 10 million won for obstruction of special official duties and 1.5 million won for violating the National Assembly Act.

Assemblywoman Kim Jeongjae was fined a total of 11.5 million won, Assemblyman Lee Manhee was fined a total of 8.5 million won, Assemblyman Yoon Hanhong was fined a total of 7.5 million won, and Assemblyman Lee Cheolgyu was fined a total of 5.5 million won.

As a result of these sentences, Na Kyungwon, Song Eonseok, and the other incumbent lawmakers will retain their seats. In general criminal cases, a sentence of imprisonment or higher, or in the case of violating the National Assembly Act, a fine of 5 million won or more, would result in the loss of a parliamentary seat.

The court stated, "This is the first case in which members of the National Assembly themselves violated the decision-making procedures established by the Assembly to reflect on past mistakes and restore public trust," adding, "Regardless of the merits or demerits of the disputed bills that sparked the conflict, it is undeniable that this incident damaged the public's expectations and trust in the National Assembly." The court continued, "The defendants, as lawmakers who should adhere to the Constitution and the law more strictly than anyone else, used illegal means to obstruct their colleagues' legislative activities or disrupt the normal operations of the Assembly. Therefore, their culpability is by no means light, and the grounds for criticism are significant."

However, the court also noted, "It appears that the defendants were motivated by political objectives to highlight the problems with the disputed bills and the actions in question, and to bring their injustice to public attention," explaining, "Fundamentally, this case stems from the National Assembly's failure to develop a mature legislative culture that gathers diverse public opinions and enacts laws and determines policies through dialogue, compromise, and persuasion."

In April 2019, these lawmakers were indicted in January 2020 on charges of confining Chae Ibae, then a member of the Bareunmirae Party, in his office, and occupying the Bill Department office, the National Assembly Special Committee on Political Reform, and the Special Committee on Judicial Reform meeting rooms.

At the time, the ruling and opposition parties clashed physically over whether to designate the bill establishing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and the bill introducing a mixed-member proportional representation system as fast-track (expedited) bills.

The prosecution had previously sought a two-year prison sentence for Na Kyungwon, one year and six months for former Prime Minister Hwang, ten months in prison and a 2 million won fine for Song Eonseok, ten months in prison and a 3 million won fine each for Lee Manhee and Kim Jeongjae, six months in prison and a 3 million won fine for Yoon Hanhong, and a 3 million won fine for Lee Cheolgyu.

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