The first hearing for People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho (Daegu Dalseong), who has been indicted on charges of participating in key tasks related to an insurrection, opened on the 25th at the Seoul Central District Court before Criminal Division 34, presided over by Judge Han Seong-jin. Choo said, "I will fight confidently to the end in accordance with the law and principles, and I will prevail."
On Facebook, Choo released a statement saying, "This indictment is not aimed at me personally but is a political operation intended to portray the People Power Party as grounds for unconstitutional dissolution — a campaign to sever the continuity of the conservative movement."
He added, "I have already waived my immunity from arrest and am engaging in the legal process with confidence," and accused the Lee Jae-myung administration and the special prosecutor of conducting baseless political persecution against him and the People Power Party. He said the trial will make the truth clear.
Choo thanked the citizens of Daegu for their continued trust and support and pledged to repay their confidence without wavering.
Prosecutors allege that during the Dec. 3 emergency martial-law episode, he changed the location of a party caucus three times — National Assembly → party headquarters → National Assembly → party headquarters — and prevented many People Power Party lawmakers from attending the vote to lift martial law.
At a pretrial conference last month, the court said it would review CCTV footage showing Choo's movements on the day of the declaration during the first hearing.
