Prosecutors not to appeal in 2019 Nat'l Assembly scuffle case

Rep. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party leaves the Seoul Southern District Court, Nov. 20, after attending her sentencing hearing over her involvement in a physical altercation at the National Assembly in 2019. Yonhap

Prosecutors said Thursday they will not appeal a court ruling that handed fines to incumbent and former lawmakers of the predecessor of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) over their involvement in a physical altercation at the National Assembly in 2019.

In a press notice, the Supreme Prosecutors Office said it made the decision after considering that the lawmakers were found guilty in the first trial and that their "motives were not driven by personal gain."

The office also cited the need to conclude a prolonged legal dispute that has dragged on for nearly six years.

Last week, the Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Rep. Na Kyung-won of the PPP, who served as floor leader of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), the PPP's predecessor, at the time, to a fine of 24 million won ($16,300).

Rep. Song Eon-seog, the current floor leader of the PPP, was given a fine of 11.5 million won, while former Prime Minister and former LKP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn was fined 19 million won.

The clash occurred in April 2019, when the LKP attempted to physically block the then ruling Democratic Party of Korea and minor parties from fast-tracking a package of reform bills, including one aimed at establishing an independent agency to investigate corruption involving high-ranking government officials. The conflict escalated when a minor party lawmaker was confined in his office for five hours by LKP members.