Police investigate protest at National Assembly premises

Police are investigating whether the chairman and floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and the chairman of the minor conservative Our Republican Party encouraged conservative protesters to stage a mass rally in front of the National Assembly a week ago.

On Dec. 16, around 2,000 demonstrators surrounded the National Assembly, demanding the parliament drop contentious fast-tracked bills on new election rules and prosecution reforms.

The protesters refused to disperse, and some demonstrators tried to trespass into the Assembly’s main lobby, clashing with police, who took into custody one demonstrator at the scene for verbally abusing and assaulting them. Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn persuaded the crowd to end the nine-hour rally.

On Tuesday, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea asked police to look into suspicions that Hwang and the head of the minor conservative Our Republican Party had masterminded what it said was an illegal protest. The ruling party pressed criminal charges, including obstructing law enforcement officials.

Observers speculate the investigation will face difficulties, given the recent precedent of a parliamentary brawl in April, when the lawmakers involved in the incident refused to appear for police questioning. Police handed the case over to prosecutors eventually.

The lawmakers charged with involvement in the recent protest too are expected to sit out police questioning. Prosecutors, who will take over the case when that happens, will face pressure to finish the investigation by April, when the country holds general elections, to avoid accusations of influencing them.

By Choi Si-young (siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com)