Court Ruling Splits Parties: Ruling Party Cries 'Legislative Tyranny,' Opposition Denounces 'Illegal Acts'

A legal dispute is unfolding over a violent incident that occurred within the National Assembly. On the 20th, the People Power Party (PPP) expressed disappointment with the initial ruling, arguing that while the lawmaker avoided losing their seat, the guilty verdict essentially gave a free pass to the majority party's overreach. Jang Dong-hyuk, a leading PPP member, asserted that the ruling represented "a desperate resistance by the minority opposition to protect the South Korean judicial system from legislative dictatorship and parliamentary tyranny." The PPP highlighted the court's criticism of the legislative process, emphasizing that it recognized the unavoidable resistance taken to uphold constitutional order. PPP Representative Joo Jin-woo questioned the prosecution's adherence to law and principle, pointing out that the prosecution abandoned its appeal despite clear evidence of harm to Kim Man-bae and his associates.

Conversely, the Democratic Party (DP) emphasized that the initial ruling definitively confirmed the PPP's "illegal violence," criticizing the PPP for twisting the guilty verdict to its advantage. Park Soo-hyun, the DP's chief spokesperson, stated, "Even a fine of just one won resulting in a guilty verdict should serve as a reminder that in the court of public opinion, it is considered a severe punishment." The DP also expressed regret over the court's six-year delay in rendering the initial ruling and the fact that the sentence was lighter than the prosecution's requested punishment. Within the party, criticisms emerged, labeling the ruling a "leniency ruling," a "nullification of the Advanced Assembly Act's purpose," and a "blanket exoneration."

The Rebuilding Korea Party expressed "deep regret" regarding the outcome of the sentencing and urged the PPP to apologize. The Reform Party commented that "both the ruling and opposition parties must end their deformed politics."