Prosecutors indicted minor Unified Progressive Party (UPP) Representative Lee Seok-ki in late September for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

Two months later, the government filed a petition to the Constitutional Court to disband the opposition party.

The case surrounding the minor party became a major issue on August 28 when the National Intelligence Service (NIS) raided the homes and offices of Rep. Lee and other senior UPP lawmakers and members. The next day, the spy agency requested an arrest warrant for Lee, accusing him of plotting to overthrow the government and violating the National Security Law. The agency also disclosed voice recordings from a secret meeting of an underground organization allegedly led by Lee.

The so-called “Revolutionary Organization” held a meeting in May where Lee and others are suspected of plotting to destroy key state institutions in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula.

The National Assembly passed a motion approving Lee’s arrest on September fourth, and an investigation began while he was detained.

The spy agency handed over Lee’s case to the prosecution which formed a taskforce to further investigate. Prosecutors indicted him on September 26 and four others were indicted shortly after.

A ruling on the first trial handling the case is set to come out next February.

On November 5, the Justice Ministry filed a petition with the Constitutional Court, calling for the breakup of the Unified Progressive Party. The plan was approved at a Cabinet meeting, marking the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history for the government to petition for the breakup of a political party.

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