'5 Billion Special Prosecutor' Different Dreams... Democratic and Justice Parties Disagree on 'Recommendation Method', People Power Party Says "Investigation First"

Minju: "50 Billion Club & Kim Gun-hee Investigation 'Double Special Prosecution'"
Justice: "Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecution Not Discussed Today" Special Prosecution Recommendation Requires Bipartisan Agreement
People Power Party: "Prosecutor's Investigation Ongoing... Special Prosecution If Investigation Is Inadequate"

Regarding the push for a special prosecutor (special investigation) into the "Daejang-dong 5 Billion Club," the Democratic Party of Korea, the Justice Party, and the People Power Party each have different calculations, making a difficult path ahead likely. For now, the Democratic Party and the Justice Party agree on the necessity of a special prosecutor but differ on the method of recommending the special prosecutor, while the People Power Party holds a negative stance toward the special prosecutor itself. Amid this, the Democratic Party is determined to designate the special prosecutor for First Lady Kim Geon-hee as a fast-track agenda within this month, raising attention on whether the dual special investigations into the 5 Billion Club and Kim Geon-hee’s case can proceed as scheduled during the March extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party and Justice Party Agree on the Necessity of a Special Prosecutor for the "5 Billion Club"

On the 6th, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Eun-ju, floor leader of the Justice Party, confirmed a consensus on the necessity of a special prosecutor for the 5 Billion Club. At their meeting in the National Assembly that morning, Park pointed out, "The 5 Billion Club is a case involving many former high-ranking prosecutors. However, the prosecution only investigated former lawmaker Kwak Sang-do, and even that investigation was consistently inadequate, resulting in the unprecedented ruling of 'not guilty' for the 5 billion won retirement bonus." He added, "Revealing the truth through a special prosecutor for the 5 Billion Club is the starting point to correct the regressing Republic of Korea," and said, "As long as two conditions are guaranteed?properly investigating the flow of money related to Daejang-dong from start to finish, and appointing an independent figure recommended by the public who is not influenced by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration?we will not be bound by form or procedure."

The Democratic Party and the Justice Party have each proposed separate special prosecutor bills regarding the 5 Billion Club allegations. The Democratic Party argues that the investigation should start from the Busan Savings Bank loan corruption allegations, which President Yoon investigated as a chief prosecutor. Also, the Democratic Party’s bill specifies that two special prosecutor candidates be recommended by a parliamentary negotiation group not affiliated with the president, effectively allowing the Democratic Party to recommend candidates alone. This differs from the Justice Party’s bill, which designates the recommending body as a non-negotiation group.

However, Park said regarding the special prosecutor recommendation method, "No one would deny that the actual recommendation should be made in consultation with the Justice Party and that a neutral and fair figure should be appointed in a way the public desires." This is interpreted as meaning that the form of recommendation by a negotiation group was included in the bill considering representation, but they intend to coordinate through consultation with the Justice Party.

Lee also said, "I heard that both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party agree on the content that they should be excluded from recommending the special prosecutor," adding, "Tomorrow, the chief secretaries of both parties will discuss how to formally adjust this." Regarding the scope of investigation, he said, "There is not much difference between the two bills from the Justice Party and the Democratic Party," and "It is something that can be discussed and resolved."

Dual Special Prosecutors Remain at an Impasse... Justice Party Delivers Protest Letter Demanding Kim Geon-hee’s Summons

However, regarding the special prosecutor for First Lady Kim Geon-hee’s stock manipulation allegations, the two parties still show no signs of reaching a consensus.

Lee Su-jin, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters after the meeting of the two floor leaders, "Realistically, it is very difficult for the special prosecutor bill to pass the Judiciary Committee. Ultimately, it can only be passed through a plenary session fast-track," and added, "We need to continue discussions including not only the 5 Billion Club but also the special prosecutor for Kim Geon-hee."

On the other hand, Lee Eun-ju said, "The special prosecutor for Kim Geon-hee was not a topic of discussion today," drawing a clear line.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the Justice Party visited the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in the afternoon to protest and urged the prosecution to summon Kim Geon-hee regarding the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case.

In the protest letter delivered to the prosecution, Lee said, "Despite clear evidence that Kim Geon-hee directly instructed the purchase of Deutsche Motors stocks and that bank accounts in her name were used for trading, the prosecution has never conducted a proper summons investigation," and criticized, "The only written investigation by the prosecution became a de facto pardon for Kim Geon-hee."

He emphasized, "Immediately summon Kim Geon-hee and others involved in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, and publicly announce the plan for Kim Geon-hee’s summons investigation and the overall investigation to the public."

People Power Party Maintains Negative Stance on Special Prosecutor Amid Opposition Pressure

The People Power Party maintained a negative stance on the push for a special prosecutor for the 5 Billion Club.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Before meeting with the Democratic Party floor leader, Lee Eun-ju met with Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, to persuade him on the special prosecutor push.

However, Joo said, "The case involving former lawmaker Kwak has already been indicted, so further investigation is difficult. I understand the prosecution is doing its best to secure a conviction in the appellate trial by reinforcing the prosecutors," and added, "As for the other names circulating in rumors, they are already under investigation as part of the Daejang-dong case, and since no investigation results have come out yet, it is not the right timing to push for a special prosecutor."

At the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Joo said, "(The Daejang-dong special prosecutor) was delayed because the previous administration botched the investigation, and when we proposed a special prosecutor, time was wasted," and added, "Now that we want to properly investigate, it seems the Democratic Party proposed the special prosecutor bill to strip investigation rights."

He continued, "Former lawmaker Kwak was acquitted, and once a case has been indicted, it cannot be further investigated," and said, "The responsibility for the inadequate investigation lies with the previous administration."

He also claimed, "The 5 Billion Club case is currently the core of the Daejang-dong investigation. Kim Man-bae’s testimony could be the most decisive evidence, but it seems he has remained silent, according to reports. It appears they are holding Kim’s custody to undermine and halt the entire Daejang-dong investigation. They are signaling Kim that 'if you hold out until the end, we can conduct a special prosecutor investigation,' which is a certain sign."

Joo emphasized, "A special prosecutor is appointed when the investigation is not conducted or when the investigation is insufficient after the investigation is completed exceptionally. If a special prosecutor is appointed now, the entire Daejang-dong investigation will be halted. Representative Lee Jae-myung is the most central suspect, but it is absurd that the core suspect recommends the prosecutor."