'5 Billion Club + Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' Fast-Track Designated... Passed Amid Opposition Party Applause (Comprehensive)

Vote amid ruling party members' exit
50 Billion Club passes with 183 votes, Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor passes with 182 votes

On the 27th, the National Assembly passed the designation of the special investigation laws (fast-track) concerning the Daejang-dong 5 billion Club and Mrs. Kim Geon-hee. The so-called double special investigations will proceed to be submitted to the plenary session after a maximum of eight months, depending on the review results of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

On the same day, the National Assembly held a plenary session to carry out the voting procedure on the designation of the double special investigation laws as fast-track items. Amid the complete withdrawal of lawmakers from the People Power Party, the double special investigation fast-track items were approved amid cheers and applause from the opposition parties. Except for one dissenting vote against the Kim Geon-hee special investigation law, all 183 opposition lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the designation of both special investigation bills as fast-track items.

Before the vote, the ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on, shouting at each other during the explanation of proposals by the opposing party's lawmakers. During Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young's speech time, People Power Party lawmakers protested by saying "It's regrettable" and "It's shameful," while Democratic Party lawmakers told People Power Party lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye, "Don't talk nonsense." After People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo finished his proposal explanation, all People Power Party lawmakers eventually left the voting hall after protesting loudly.

Earlier, 182 opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Justice Party, and others submitted a request for the designation of the 5 billion Club and Kim Geon-hee special investigations as fast-track items to the National Assembly on the 25th. The two parties agreed that the 5 billion Club special investigation would be based on the bill proposed by lawmaker Kang Eun-mi, and if it does not pass the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting within 180 days, the alternative approved by the first subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee would be adopted as a plenary session amendment.

On the 27th, during the 5th plenary session of the 405th National Assembly (extraordinary session) held at the National Assembly, members of the People Power Party attached signs with the phrase "Bulletproof Money Envelopes, Condemn Parliamentary Rampage" to their seats. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Regarding the Kim Geon-hee special investigation bill, the proposal by Justice Party floor leader Lee Eun-joo was set as the basis, but if it does not pass the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting within 180 days, further discussions on the investigation targets and special investigation recommendation methods would be held to prepare a plenary session amendment. The Democratic Party intended to expand the special investigation related to Mrs. Kim.

The ruling and opposition parties held debates for and against ahead of the vote.

People Power Party lawmaker Jeon Ju-hye raised issues regarding the 5 billion Club special investigation, saying, "The Democratic Party and the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecution did not conduct a proper investigation," and questioned, "Do you trust the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecution but not the Yoon Seok-youl administration's prosecution?" Lawmaker Jeon criticized, "The 5 billion Club special investigation law will become a black hole that absorbs everything, including the ongoing Daejang-dong investigation surrounding party leader Lee Jae-myung, illegal election fund cases, North Korean remittance cases, Baekhyeon-dong cases, and Wirye New Town cases."

Justice Party lawmaker Kang Eun-mi pointed out that former People Power Party lawmaker Kwak Sang-do was acquitted in the first trial related to the 5 billion Club and stated that the public cannot trust the prosecution's investigation, demanding the role of the National Assembly. She expressed support for the fast-track, saying, "The National Assembly submitted the special investigation law to establish judicial justice."

People Power Party lawmaker Park Hyung-soo criticized the Kim Geon-hee special investigation, saying, "When the chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee changed to a People Power Party member, making a forced vote impossible, the Democratic Party is now bypassing the standing committee and attempting to fast-track the bill in the plenary session using irregular methods." Lawmaker Park said, "Despite the prosecution's ongoing investigation of this case, they are pushing for a special investigation," adding, "This is a political trick to divert public attention from the money envelope, loan shark meetings, and party leader Lee Jae-myung, and to damage the president's wife to overcome the Democratic Party's judicial risk situation."

On the 27th, before the proposal for the double special prosecution fast-track was submitted at the National Assembly plenary session, members of the People Power Party were leaving the chamber. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-duk said, "As confirmed by several public opinion polls, the public says a special investigation is necessary," and added, "It is essential to clarify this to realize the fairness of the law and judicial justice." In particular, lawmaker Yoon pointed out that the special investigation law review process is not proceeding properly and appealed for support, saying, "We must become a working National Assembly that listens to the will of the people."

Initially, the Democratic Party and others hurried the fast-track schedule to enable a vote on the special investigation law within the regular National Assembly session, but the designation was delayed due to the Justice Party's opposition to following the normal review procedure in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. The Justice Party changed its stance and agreed to the fast-track designation after observing that the 5 billion Club special investigation law, which passed the first subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, was not submitted to the full committee.

After the 180-day review period, the bill can be brought to the plenary session after 60 days. Due to this, the political circle expects the double special investigation bills to be dealt with in the plenary session around the end of this year or early next year.

The political circle believes that negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties remain after the fast-track designation. With about eight months remaining, the schedule for the special investigations may change depending on political developments.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party lawmakers who had been staging a sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly plenary hall demanding the passage of the special investigation law decided to end their protest starting from this day as the fast-track designation was made.