Prosecutors on the 15th sought a year and six months in prison in the first trial of Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Freedom and Innovation, who was indicted over the 2019 National Assembly fast-track (expedited bill) clash. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party, who was indicted alongside him, faced a demand of two years in prison. It comes about five years and eight months after they were brought to trial.
The 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Chan, Director General judge) held a closing hearing that day for 26 people, including Rep. Na and leader Hwang, who were indicted on charges including obstructing special official duties.
Earlier, 27 defendants including leader Hwang and Rep. Na were indicted without detention in Jan. 2020 on charges including obstructing special official duties, after in Apr. 2019, when the Democratic Party of Korea moved to place the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act and the semi-linked proportional representation system on the "expedited bill" track, they allegedly confined Bareunmirae Party Rep. Chae Yi-bae in his office or occupied a meeting room to obstruct the conduct of National Assembly proceedings. However, among the defendants, former Rep. Jang Je-won, now deceased, died in Mar. of this year and the prosecution was dismissed.
At the hearing, prosecutors asked the court to sentence leader Hwang, who was party leader at the time, to a year and six months in prison and Rep. Na, who was the floor leader at the time, to two years in prison. They also sought 10 months in prison and a 2 million won fine for Rep. Song Eon-seok, the current People Power Party floor leader.
Prosecutors also sought sentences ranging from 10 months in prison to fines of 3 million won for the other defendants, saying, "We ask for these sentences in light of the degree of participation in the crimes." Lawmakers lose their seats when a sentence of imprisonment or heavier is finalized in an ordinary criminal case.
As Hwang appeared in court that day, when reporters asked, "Do you admit the charges?" he said, "One bears responsibility only if there is illegality. The ones who should bear responsibility are the people who prosecuted us."
In defendant questioning held during the morning hearing, Rep. Na denied the charges, saying, "I never planned to use assault or physical force." She added, "To defend constitutional values and parliamentary democracy, each of us expressed political intent and engaged in passive resistance such as sit-in protests and chanting slogans."
Meanwhile, at the time of the indictment in this case, prosecutors also charged 10 former and current officials of the Democratic Party of Korea, including Rep. Park Beom-kye, with offenses including joint assault. That trial is proceeding separately at the Seoul Southern District Court.