Prosecutors, judges clash over not guilty verdict for progressive lawmaker

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- A dispute between the nation's prosecution and
judiciary was heating up Friday as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued a
statement protesting against a liberal judge's acquittal of the head of a minor
progressive party on charges of violence in parliament.

Kang Ki-kab, the head of the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP), was
indicted on charges of obstructing duties while protesting a bill on the South
Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) early last year, but was declared not
guilty Thursday by a Seoul district court.
But on Friday, in an extraordinary gesture, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office
issued a statement in protest of the acquittal.
"It is an unfair judgment against common interpretation of law," said the
statement released by the public security department at the office. "While many
people saw how Rep. Kang used violence through broadcasts, it is not proper to
declare his innocence."
Kang, a farmer-turned-legislator for the minor progressive party, was accused of
throwing furniture in the office of the National Assembly speaker, assaulting
parliamentary security guards and using foul language in the protest against the
attempt to ratify the FTA by the ruling Grand National Party (GNP).
The controversial ruling immediately triggered a wave of resentment, particularly
among GNP lawmakers and conservative citizens, who argued that the ruling was
politically biased.
A ranking prosecutor involved in Kang's case also said that the Seoul court's
ruling is feared to set a bad precedent for violence in the National Assembly,
vowing to soon appeal the case.
Prosecutors had asked the Seoul Nambu District Court to sentence Kang to a
one-and-a-half year prison term.
Reflecting the controversial nature of the ruling, the rival parties showed
starkly conflicting reactions.
GNP Chairman Chung Mong-joon said during a meeting with party staffers that the
people will have difficulty understanding the court's ruling.
"The court's decision seems to suggest that (Kang's action) was a form of just
protest, but most of the people will have a hard time comprehending (the
ruling)," Chung said.
The chairman also said that he is in favor of the prosecution's decision in
appealing the ruling, noting that "such confusion should be straightened out."
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP), meanwhile, expressed support for the
court decision amid the ruling party's overwhelming voting power to ram through
contested bills.
"Kang was found not guilty. As the DP's floor leader, I find this very important.
GNP has an absolute majority of seats inside the National Assembly, and the
president is pushing through bills," Lee Kang-rae, the DP floor leader, said
during a meeting with party leaders.
Ahn Sang-soo, the GNP floor leader, vowed in a meeting with the party leadership
that the GNP will work to set up a special committee to reform the legal system
through cooperation with opposition parties.
In a separate ruling, a Seoul district court had fined two minor party lawmakers
for destroying parliamentary property during a bipartisan clash over the
contentious free trade agreement bill with the United States in December 2008.
They had been indicted for using hammers and other tools as they tried to break
into a room in the National Assembly.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)

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