People Power Party Ends 5-Hour Sit-In...All-Out Blockade Against Special Prosecutor's Search and Seizure (Comprehensive)

The People Power Party has intensified its opposition campaign in response to the search and seizure conducted by the special prosecutor Cho Eunseok’s team, which is investigating cases related to martial law and charges of insurrection and treason. The party is not only pursuing legal action, such as filing complaints against Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok, but also plans to demand the resignation of National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik if it is confirmed that he coordinated with the special prosecutor.

On September 3, during an emergency general meeting of lawmakers held in front of the party’s floor leader’s office, Floor Leader Song Eonseok stated, “We cannot possibly accept the warrant issued by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok.”

That afternoon, People Power Party lawmakers sat on the floor of the corridor in front of the floor leader’s office and the parliamentary administration office in the main building of the National Assembly, confronting the special prosecutor’s team as they attempted to execute the search and seizure. Party leader Jang Donghyuk, along with other senior members and many lawmakers, strongly protested against the special prosecutor’s team, chanting slogans such as “Dismantle the special prosecutor for political retaliation.”

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, Song Eonseok, floor leader, and other lawmakers are holding a protest vigil condemning the special prosecutor's search and seizure in the corridor in front of the floor leader's office at the National Assembly on September 3, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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The special prosecutor’s team attempted to enter the People Power Party’s floor leader’s office and other areas to carry out the search and seizure, but was blocked by the lawmakers’ resistance. The previous day, the special prosecutor’s team had also attempted to search these locations but withdrew without executing the warrant.

As the National Assembly is classified as a “priority security facility,” a search and seizure cannot be conducted without the permission of the National Assembly Speaker. However, the People Power Party claims that Speaker Woo, who departed the country the previous day to attend China’s Victory Day event, instructed the special prosecutor to negotiate voluntary submission with the party for only about a day.

Floor Leader Song commented, “I suspect that Speaker Woo may have pre-approved the execution of the search and seizure warrant after a certain period,” adding, “Speaker Woo must clarify this matter, and if it is true, we will demand his resignation.”

The party also took issue with the National Assembly Secretariat filming the general meeting of lawmakers during the search and seizure attempt. Floor Leader Song criticized, “Filming a specific party’s general meeting inside the National Assembly without prior permission is clearly surveillance,” and added, “If the special prosecutor requested the Secretariat or the security office to record video as evidence, it means illegal political surveillance has now reached the special prosecutor.” He stated that the party would verify the facts and take legal action.

The party also protested the special prosecutor’s seizure of a party staffer’s mobile phone. Floor Leader Song warned, “Even though Secretariat staff requested that the special prosecutor clearly state who was under suspicion, for what charges, and what acts were subject to the search and seizure, and asked them to wait until a lawyer arrived, the special prosecutor claimed urgency and seized the phone, saying there was no time. We consider this an illegal search and seizure and will hold them legally accountable.”

From the morning of September 3, the People Power Party held an emergency Supreme Council meeting, an emergency general meeting of lawmakers, and a protest rally in succession, launching an indefinite sit-in to block the special prosecutor’s search and seizure. The sit-in, which began at 1:20 p.m. in front of the floor leader’s office, continued for about five hours until the special prosecutor withdrew. The People Power Party announced plans to hold another protest rally on September 4, anticipating further search and seizure attempts by the special prosecutor. The party plans to mobilize all lawmakers and Secretariat staff to defend the floor leader’s office and the parliamentary administration office, which are targets of the forced investigation, until the special prosecutor ceases all search and seizure attempts.

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