Warning: "PPP to file criminal charges if PPP obstructs committee proceedings again"

Protest during audit by surrounding Chairperson Choo's seat... "PPP are habitual offenders of the National Assembly Advancement Act"

To Na Kyung-won: "Already being tried for violating the Advancement Act... Spouse's attendance at audit is a conflict of interest"

Democratic Party Leader Jung Cheong-rae speaks at a supreme council meeting (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Kwang-mo = Democratic Party Leader Jung Cheong-rae and other supreme council members are speaking at a supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. 2025.10.20 hkmpooh@yna.co.kr

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporters Lee Seul-gi and Oh Gyu-jin = The Democratic Party (DP) warned on the 20th that it would respond with legal measures, including "criminal charges," holding the People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers responsible for the intensified political disputes during the parliamentary audit at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

The DP argues that the PPP lawmakers' repeated protests, such as standing up from their seats and surrounding the chairperson's seat during audits in response to allegations that DP lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, the committee chairperson, was operating the standing committee in a biased manner, constitute violations of the National Assembly Advancement Act.

DP Leader Jung Cheong-rae stated at a supreme council meeting on the same day, "It appears that the PPP's obstructive actions have gone too far, to the point where the chairperson cannot proceed with the meeting," and warned, "They are subject to criminal charges under the National Assembly Advancement Act."

Jung said, "I spoke with Chairperson Choo yesterday. I ordered that if they obstruct the meeting by occupying the chairperson's seat again, they will be criminally charged under the Advancement Act."

He referred to relevant provisions such as Articles 49, 52, and 145 of the National Assembly Act and reiterated, "I understand there are lawmakers in the PPP who are being prosecuted for violating the National Assembly Advancement Act. Wouldn't criminal charges lead to aggravated punishment if they repeat such actions?" He warned them not to engage in activities that would lead to criminal charges.

Rep. Na Kyung-won explains the 'Choo Mi-ae Prevention Act' and 'Kim Hyun-ji Prevention Act' (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Ju-seong = PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is holding a press conference on the 'Choo Mi-ae Prevention Act' and 'Kim Hyun-ji Prevention Act' at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 19th.

The 'Choo Mi-ae Prevention Act' aims to legally guarantee the floor leader's right to recommend members and restrict the abuse of the standing committee chairperson's disciplinary powers.

The 'Kim Hyun-ji Prevention Act' stipulates that if one-third or more of the committee members formally request the attendance of a witness, the witness will be automatically summoned without a majority vote.

From left, Reps. Park Jun-tae, Na Kyung-won, and Cho Bae-sook. 2025.10.19 [Joint Reporting] utzza@yna.co.kr

PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won, among the current standing committee members from the PPP, was the floor leader in 2019 during the 'National Assembly Fast-Track Incident,' where she obstructed the DP's legislative processing and was subsequently indicted for violating the National Assembly Advancement Act.

Na and other PPP members of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee had announced the previous day that they would "propose the 'Choo Mi-ae Prevention Act' to prevent abuse of standing committee chairperson's authority and the 'Kim Hyun-ji Prevention Act' to prevent the majority party from blocking witness summons."

In response, DP Supreme Council member Jeon Hyun-hee, a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, stated at the meeting, "The PPP, which has only chanted 'Everything is about Kim Hyun-ji' throughout the audit, is now further degrading the National Assembly by proposing the Kim Hyun-ji Prevention Act. Is the PPP a group of stalkers?"

She continued, "The PPP, which has hurled abusive and disrespectful remarks at Chairperson Choo's lawful proceedings and turned the Legislation and Judiciary Committee into a chaotic mess throughout the audit, are habitual offenders of the National Assembly Advancement Act."

She added, "Rep. Na Kyung-won, who is currently being prosecuted for violating the Advancement Act and whose spouse is a judge at the Chuncheon District Court, attending the Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit while her spouse is presiding over court proceedings is a clear conflict of interest. We will immediately propose the 'Na Kyung-won Prevention Act' to prohibit the appointment of committee leaders with conflicts of interest."

DP Supreme Council member Kim Byung-joo also said, "If you enact such evil laws, you can create 12 bills a day. Including the 'Jang Dong-hyuk Moral Equality Prohibition Act,' 'Na Kyung-won Thick-Skinned Prevention Act,' 'Kwak Gyu-taek Committee Riot Punishment Act,' 'Song Eon-seok Homicide Incitement Punishment Act,' 'Kim Eun-hye Hate Speech Bill Prohibition Act,' and 'People Power Party Treason Party Dissolution Act.' " He added, "The People Power Party, if you cannot be human, at least do not be beasts."

wise@yna.co.kr

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