The People Power Party assessed the first-trial verdict in the National Assembly fast-track (expedited agenda) clash case by saying, "We regret the guilty verdict, but a minimal line of defense against the Democratic Party of Korea's parliamentary dictatorship was recognized." It also warned that, as prosecutors recently declined to appeal in connection with the Daejang-dong development scandal, it will watch whether an appeal is filed in the fast-track clash case.
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk held a press conference at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 20th and said, "As the court stated as a sentencing factor, the (fast-track clash case) was a political act that occurred within the National Assembly and an incidental act accompanying the process of expressing our position while demanding sincere negotiations," adding, "It is far removed from threatening behavior."
He went on to say, "We regret the (guilty) ruling that shrinks autonomy within the National Assembly and, by interpreting the meaning of consultation under the National Assembly Act very broadly, grants impunity to the tyranny of the majority party," stressing, "The resistance that day was the desperate pushback of a minority opposition party to defend Korea's judicial system from legislative dictatorship and parliamentary tyranny."
People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seog wrote on Facebook immediately after the first-trial sentencing in the fast-track clash case, "We regret the guilty verdict in this trial, which was used as part of the suppression of the opposition," adding, "We will watch whether prosecutors appeal, given that they declined to appeal in the case of the Daejang-dong criminal ring that directly harmed the public. We will closely review the written judgment and consider our next steps."
Na Kyung-won, a lawmaker from the same party, met with reporters after the first-trial sentencing hearing and said, "We are disappointed that a not-guilty verdict did not come out," but added, "The court recognized at least a line of defense to stop the Democratic Party of Korea's dictatorship. It clearly acknowledged the justification for our political circumstances and resistance."
People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo said, "I believe this ruling places an important brake, by the court, on the Democratic Party's parliamentary dictatorship," adding, "Lawmakers will confer to decide whether to appeal, and in the Daejang-dong development scandal, where the public suffered direct harm, didn't prosecutors decline to appeal? We will watch closely to see how they judge this."
The National Assembly fast-track clash case stems from when the People Power Party, in its Liberty Korea Party era in 2019, engaged in an extreme standoff over whether to place on the fast track bills to establish the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and to amend the Public Official Election Act.
Twenty-six people, including Floor Leader Song and lawmaker Na, were all fined in the first trial after being found guilty of obstructing the performance of special public duties and violating the National Assembly Advancement Act. However, the sentences did not meet the threshold for loss of office, so they retained their seats.