Justice Party Declares Fast-Track for 5 Billion + Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor... "Targeting Plenary Session on 27th"

Eunju Lee, Justice Party Floor Leader, "Exhausted Patience and Tolerance"

The Justice Party declared on the 25th that it will initiate the fast-track designation procedure for the so-called dual special investigations (yangteukgeom) concerning the 5 billion Club special investigation and the special investigation into Mrs. Kim Geon-hee. The Justice Party aims to submit the fast-track agenda at the plenary session on the 27th.

Lee Eun-ju, the floor leader of the Justice Party, said at the party meeting that day, "The time the Justice Party has given to the People Power Party is now over," and added, "From today, the Justice Party will immediately begin the fast-track procedure for the special investigations to uncover the 5 billion Club and the stock manipulation allegations involving Mrs. Kim Geon-hee."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee said, "(The Justice Party) has exercised patience and tolerance in the past during the confrontational phase between the ruling and opposition parties, where the president's veto power has become routine, in order to achieve the true purpose of the special investigations, which is truth-finding, through meetings of floor leaders and submission to the Judiciary Committee," and added, "We have judged that the People Power Party's attitude, which shows no willingness to even discuss, let alone follow the procedures stipulated by the National Assembly Act, has reached a point that can no longer be tolerated."

He also presented specific plans regarding the special investigation bills and timing.

Lee said, "The 5 billion Club special investigation can be designated as a fast-track agenda by passing the original bill that passed the first subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee as is," and added, "Regarding the special investigation into Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, where there are disagreements about the scope of the investigation and the method of recommending the special investigator, we will prepare a reasonable plan through consultations with the Democratic Party of Korea." He said, "Since a lot of time has already been delayed, we will speed up discussions aiming to submit it to the plenary session the day after tomorrow."

The Democratic Party also officially announced the fast-track designation of the dual special investigations on the 27th.

Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the party strategy meeting that day, "The Democratic Party and the Justice Party have repeatedly expressed that if the dual special investigation bills are not processed in the Judiciary Committee, fast-track designation at the plenary session on the 27th will be inevitable," and added, "Following the people's mandate, the Democratic Party will unite with other opposition parties today and tomorrow to ensure the fast-track designation of the dual special investigation bills at the plenary session the day after tomorrow."