A Seoul court acquitted Rep. Kang Ki-kab of the progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Thursday, who was indicted for using violence to interrupt procedures over a bill on a Korea-U.S. free trade agreement last year.
"Despite the fact that the legislator used violence inside the National Assembly to protest the endorsement, it was not intended to harm people," presiding Judge Lee Dong-yeon said.
The judge also exonerated him for destroying furniture in the office of the chief manager of the Assembly building and wielding a sledgehammer to break into a conference hall, saying, "His action was intended as an attempt to enter the hall as a representative of the party."
The 57-year-old said, "I wish I will never see the inside of a courtroom again." The prosecution plans to appeal.
The farmer-turned-lawmaker was indicted in January last year for violent acts inside the National Assembly in protesting against the forced breakup of a sit-in staged by DLP lawmakers against the free trade bill. The minor opposition party staged the demonstration to protest the governing Grand National Party's bid to pass the trade bill.