A South Korean court has ruled against citizens who filed a damages lawsuit against the People Power Party, claiming that Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho obstructed the National Assembly's resolution to lift emergency martial law during the December 3 incident.
On November 9, legal sources reported that the Seoul Southern District Court, presided over by Judge Choi Jong-du, ruled against the 46 plaintiffs in their lawsuit against the People Power Party on October 30.
The court determined that the actions taken by Mayor Choo, in his capacity as the party's floor leader, to summon party members did not sufficiently demonstrate an intent to obstruct or delay the National Assembly's resolution to lift the emergency martial law.
Furthermore, the court stated that these actions were merely part of individual politicians' political judgments or legislative activities, making it difficult to attribute legal responsibility to the party itself.
The plaintiffs had claimed that after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency in December 2024, politicians affiliated with the People Power Party, including Mayor Choo, caused them harm by obstructing the National Assembly's resolution to lift the emergency martial law. They sought 100,000 won in damages.
They alleged that Mayor Choo changed the venue for party meetings multiple times, disrupting lawmakers' participation in the vote on the resolution to lift the emergency martial law.
At that time, the National Assembly passed the resolution with unanimous support from all 190 present lawmakers. Only 18 of the 108 People Power Party members participated in the vote, while 90 were absent.
Separately, the special prosecutor's team investigating insurrection, led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok, has sought a 20-year prison sentence for Mayor Choo, who was indicted for allegedly obstructing the vote to lift the emergency martial law.
The first-instance ruling on Mayor Choo's charges of engaging in insurrection is scheduled for November 18 at 2 p.m. If he receives a sentence of imprisonment or higher, he will lose his position as mayor under local government laws.
Mayor Choo's side has denied all charges, arguing that merely having the authority to convene party meetings as the floor leader does not equate to controlling lawmakers' participation in the vote to lift the emergency martial law.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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