Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on September 16, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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The first trial verdict for the 'National Assembly Fast-Track Clash' case, which involved the leadership and lawmakers of the Liberty Korea Party, the predecessor of the People Power Party, is scheduled for November 20. Prosecutors have demanded heavy prison sentences for those involved.

On September 15, during the final hearing at the Criminal Agreement Division 11 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Chan), prosecutors requested a two-year prison sentence for Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon, who was the floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party at the time, and a one year and six month prison sentence for Hwang Kyoan, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party.

On September 16, Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, Song Eonseok, the floor leader, and other lawmakers shouted slogans holding placards that read "Court Collapse, Birth of Dictatorship, Judicial Subordination, Crime Heaven" at the lawmakers' meeting held at the National Assembly. 2025.9.16 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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Prosecutors requested a 10-month prison sentence and a fine of 2 million won for Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party; a 10-month prison sentence and a fine of 3 million won each for lawmakers Lee Manhee and Kim Jeongjae; a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 3 million won for lawmaker Yoon Hanhong; and a fine of 3 million won for lawmaker Lee Cheolgyu.

In addition, prosecutors asked the court to impose a fine of 5 million won on Lee Jangwoo, the current mayor of Daejeon, and a fine of 3 million won on Kim Taeheum, the governor of South Chungcheong Province.

Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on September 16, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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The court has set the sentencing date for the first trial of this case for November 20. This comes six years and seven months after the incident occurred.

A total of 27 people, including those mentioned above, were indicted on charges of detaining Assemblyman Chae Ibae of the Bareunmirae Party in his office, occupying the Bill Processing Office, and seizing the meeting rooms of the Special Committee on Political Reform and the Special Committee on Judicial Reform in 2019, thereby obstructing the submission of bills and the holding of meetings. At the time, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether to fast-track bills such as the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the introduction of a mixed-member proportional representation system. Among the defendants, the late former lawmaker Jang Jewon had his charges dismissed due to his death.

People Power Party floor leader Song Eonseok criticizes the ruling party's pressure on the judiciary, including demands for Chief Justice Cho Heedae's resignation, at a party meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on September 16, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

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Elected officials lose their positions if sentenced to imprisonment or greater in a criminal case, and National Assembly members lose their seats if fined more than 5 million won under the National Assembly Act.

In her final statement, Assemblywoman Na said, "This case is not a matter for judicial judgment but belongs in the political domain," adding, "The mixed-member proportional representation system and the Corruption Investigation Office Act were unconstitutional bills." She asked the court to make a wise decision.

Floor leader Song stated, "I recognized that the fast-track procedure itself violated the National Assembly Act and the Constitution, and I believed it was my responsibility to ensure that politics moved in the right direction." Leader Hwang said, "If political conflict is punished as a criminal case, the National Assembly will no longer be able to represent the people of Korea."