Choo Kyung-ho, a People Power Party lawmaker who was brought to trial on charges of obstructing the vote on a resolution demanding the lifting of the Dec. 3 martial law, denied all charges and claimed innocence at the first hearing held on the 25th.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 34 (Presiding Judge Han Sung-jin, senior judge) held the first hearing that day for Choo, who was indicted without detention on charges of engaging in key duties in connection with insurrection.
The special counsel investigating the insurrection alleges that Choo intentionally obstructed People Power Party lawmakers from attending the vote after receiving a request for cooperation from former President Yoon Suk-yeol on the day martial law was declared. According to the special counsel, Choo delayed or caused confusion in fellow lawmakers' movement to the main chamber by repeatedly changing the venue of the party caucus from the National Assembly to party headquarters, then back to the National Assembly and party headquarters again, and as a result, 90 out of 108 People Power Party lawmakers failed to attend the vote. The special counsel indicted Choo without detention in Dec. last year on these charges.
Choo's side countered that he did not know of the martial law plan in advance and never received a request for cooperation from the former president, denying the charges. Choo's attorney said, "Among the materials the special counsel has disclosed so far, there is no direct evidence proving the crime," and added, "They are forcing unreasonable claims by fitting fabricated materials together with speculation and imagination."
Choo's side in particular cited the fact that the phone call with the former president on the day of martial law lasted only a little over two minutes. They also argued that even the first-instance judgment on the former president's insurrection charge contains no mention that he asked Choo for cooperation. Unless the former president's request for cooperation is recognized, the charge of obstructing the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law premised on that request cannot stand either.
Choo's side further argued that the indictment itself may meet the elements of the crime of perversion of the law.
Choo strongly criticized the special counsel's investigation as he appeared at court that day. Choo said, "This case is not about an individual but a political scheme to brand the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party and cut off the lifeline of a conservative party through an insurrection smear," adding, "The absurd political scheme and oppression by the Lee Jae-myung administration and the political special counsel targeting Choo Kyung-ho and the People Power Party will be clearly revealed through the trial." He continued, "We will fight to the end with confidence in accordance with the law and principles and prevail."