On the afternoon of the 20th, Na Kyung-won, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, answers reporters' questions as she leaves the courthouse. Na and others received their first-instance verdicts 6 years and 7 months after the '2019 National Assembly Fast-Track Collision' incident. Yonhap News

Six years and seven months after the '2019 National Assembly Fast-Track Collision' incident, first-instance verdicts have been delivered to former and current lawmakers of the People Power Party.

The Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Chan) held a sentencing hearing for 26 individuals involved in the case on the afternoon of the 20th at 2 p.m. and imposed fines on Na Kyung-won, a lawmaker of the People Power Party, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, and former National Assembly member Min Kyung-wook.

On this day, the court sentenced Rep. Na, who was the floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) at the time of the incident, to a total fine of 24 million won. 20 million won was for charges including obstruction of official duties by force, and 4 million won was for violating the National Assembly Act.

Former Prime Minister Hwang, who was the party leader, was fined a total of 19 million won, former Rep. Min was fined 13 million won, and Rep. Song Eon-seok, who currently serves as the floor leader of the People Power Party, was fined a total of 11.5 million won.

Incumbent elected officials including Reps. Lee Man-hee (8.5 million won), Kim Jung-jae (11.5 million won), Yoon Han-hong (7.5 million won), and Lee Chul-gyu (5.5 million won) also received fines. Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo (7.5 million won) and Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum (1.5 million won) were also fined.

However, since the fines for violating the National Assembly Act were imposed at amounts less than 5 million won, the threshold for losing one's parliamentary seat, all incumbent lawmakers will retain their positions.

Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn conveys his message to reporters, stating, "Liberal democracy has collapsed. We will fight to the end." Yonhap News

The defendants argued for 'political acts' and 'right to resist,' but the court pointed out, "Regardless of the legitimacy of the disputed bills, the lawmakers in question have damaged public trust in the National Assembly," and "The fast-track collision is neither subject to parliamentary immunity nor an exercise of the right to resist."

It further stated, "However, considering that the public's political judgment of the defendants has been made to some extent through several general and local elections since the incident occurred," as a reason for the sentencing.

Rep. Na expressed her deep regret that a political case has been brought to judicial trial for six years, and while she lamented the absence of an acquittal, she emphasized that it was a meaningful verdict, stating, "The court has clearly recognized the legitimacy of our political resistance. Ultimately, it has recognized the minimum line of defense to prevent the dictatorship of the Democratic Party."

Former Prime Minister Hwang conveyed his message: "Liberal democracy has collapsed. We will fight to the end."

Former National Assembly member Min Kyung-wook answers reporters' questions after the first-instance sentencing hearing for the 'National Assembly Fast-Track Collision' at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Yonhap News

In April 2019, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in fierce confrontation and physical clashes over the designation of bills, including the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the introduction of a linked proportional representation system, as fast-track bills. Rep. Na and others were indicted in January 2020 on charges of confining then-Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Chae Yi-bae to his office and occupying the bill office, the Special Committee on Political Reform, and the Special Committee on Judicial Reform meeting rooms.

The court explained that the 5 years and 10 months it took from indictment to sentencing were due to the extensive evidence, including 26 defendants, over 2,000 pieces of evidence submitted by the prosecution, about 50 witnesses, and 6 terabytes (TB) of video files.

The prosecution plans to review the verdict and consider whether to appeal.

First-instance verdicts for Democratic Party officials indicted in the same case are also expected to be delivered by early next year at the latest.

Editorial Department, Hanmi Ilbo