'Attempted search and seizure of the special prosecutor's floor leader's office; the People Power Party picketing.' On the 3rd, as the search and seizure attempt by the Jo Eun-seok special prosecutor's team investigating 'allegations of obstructing the vote to lift martial law' at the People Power Party's floor leader's office continues, lawmakers from the People Power Party are staging a sit-in in front of the floor leader's office at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, holding signs that read 'Stop the political retaliation search and seizure that oppresses the opposition party.' Yonhap News. 

The People Power Party, which had been fragmented after their presidential election defeat, is now forming a united front and escalating its confrontation with the ruling party as the special prosecutor's investigation closes in.

Following the 3 special prosecutors placing over 10 People Power Party lawmakers on their investigation list and now directly targeting the former floor leader, the ruling party's repeated emphasis on the "party of rebellion" frame has prompted a shift to a hardline opposition mode.

The People Power Party held an emergency supreme council meeting, a lawmakers' general meeting, and a condemnation rally consecutively at the National Assembly on the 3rd, denouncing the special prosecutor's search and seizure as an "investigation to annihilate the opposition party."

At the condemnation rally, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok declared, "We condemn the outrageous search and seizure and excessive investigation by the 3 special prosecutors, who are plotting to annihilate the opposition party." He added, "Effective immediately, we will begin an indefinite sit-in until the search and seizure is thwarted."

The Jo Eun-seok special prosecutor's team, investigating allegations of rebellion related to the December 3rd emergency martial law, attempted to search and seize the floor leader's office in the National Assembly main building, following the previous day's attempt.

Special prosecutor's office officials, accompanied by National Assembly Secretariat staff, attempted to enter the floor leader's office but were blocked by lawmakers who had taken up positions there.

Lawmakers held a general meeting in the hallway in front of the floor leader's office and the floor administration office, the sites targeted for the search and seizure, holding protest signs and staging a sit-in to prevent the execution of the search and seizure.

During this process, a commotion arose when a National Assembly security official guided the special prosecutor's staff and filmed the general meeting with a mobile phone, prompting lawmakers to protest, "Why are you spying on us?"

In relation to this, the party leadership visited National Assembly Secretary-General Kim Min-ki to protest, and after the visit, Kim visited the general meeting hall, bowed, and apologized, stating, "I will investigate thoroughly."

There was also a verbal exchange regarding the circumstances under which National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who was visiting China, granted permission for the special prosecutor's team to enter the National Assembly.

When Floor Leader Song Eon-seok asked, "When did the Speaker grant permission?" Secretary-General Kim replied, "(Speaker Woo) said yesterday to allow a day for sufficient consultation."

In response, Representative Jang Dong-hyuk expressed his regret, stating, "If Speaker Woo had sent a message allowing (the search and seizure of the National Assembly main building), what reason would the special prosecutor's team have to negotiate with us about voluntary submission?"

The party is also considering filing a complaint against the special prosecutor investigating the rebellion allegations.

The response at the standing committee level has also intensified.

The People Power Party, which had nominated five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won as the opposition party's convener for the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, chaired by six-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae of the Democratic Party, and signaled a head-on confrontation, saw its affiliated lawmakers on the committee collectively protest when Chairperson Choo rejected the motion to appoint Na as convener the previous day.

The meeting was disrupted as Democratic Party lawmakers on the committee engaged in a shouting match with them, denouncing the rejection of the motion.

The intention behind this proactive response appears to be to highlight the party's determination not to be passively dragged along by the one-sided offensive from the special prosecutor and the ruling party any longer.

A party leadership official stated, "We will demonstrate a strong response with a united front following the launch of the new leadership." He added, "While there is nothing new in the method of struggle, we will complement what has been lacking."

'Floor Leader Song Eon-seok protesting to National Assembly Secretariat officials.' On the 3rd, amid the ongoing attempt by the Jo Eun-seok special prosecutor's team investigating 'allegations of obstructing the vote to lift martial law' to search and seize the People Power Party's floor leader's office, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok is protesting to National Assembly Secretariat officials who were filming the emergency lawmakers' general meeting being held in front of the office. Yonhap News. 

Yonhap News