Labor party leader found not guilty of violence in parliament

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul district court on Thursday acquitted Rep. Kang
Ki-kab, leader of the progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP), of charges of
obstructing official parliamentary duties during his protest of a bill on the
South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement a year ago.

The farmer-turned-legislator was indicted in January last year for throwing
furniture in the office of National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o, assaulting
parliamentary security guards and using foul language 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 against the ruling
Grand National Party's bid to push through the bill on the free trade agreement
with the United States.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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