Ruling and Opposition Parties to Pass Itaewon Special Act Amendment in Plenary Session on 2nd... Agreement on Special Investigation Committee Formation and Duration

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to revise and process the 'Itaewon Disaster Truth Investigation Special Act' at the plenary session on the 2nd.

On the 1st, the chief deputy floor leaders of both parties held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and announced this.

On that day, the ruling and opposition parties agreed on the composition, activity period, and investigation methods of the Special Investigation Committee (Special Committee) specified in the Itaewon Special Act.

The Special Committee will be composed of a total of nine members, including one chairperson and four members each from the ruling and opposition parties. The activity period is set to be within one year, with an extension possible within three months.

Lee Yang-su, chief deputy floor leader of the People Power Party, explained, "Originally, we had agreed to an activity period within six months, extendable within three months, but this time we accepted the Democratic Party's claim and decided to maintain the current bill."

Additionally, the two provisions pointed out by the People Power Party as 'toxic clauses' were agreed to be deleted. These provisions include Article 28, which allows the Special Committee to order the submission of materials and objects ex officio for cases that have been dismissed or where investigations have been suspended, and Article 30, which allows the Special Committee to request search warrants. The chief deputy floor leader added, "The Democratic Party accepted these two proposals in the spirit of cooperation."

It was agreed that the special law would be processed as an agenda item at the plenary session on the 2nd. Park Ju-min, chief deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, said, "We discussed submitting the revised content to the plenary session tomorrow for processing," and added, "We will confirm the method with the National Assembly Secretariat and finalize it tomorrow morning."

However, the ruling and opposition parties have not yet reached an agreement on the 'Special Prosecutor Act on Suspected Investigation Interference in the Death Case of Marine Corporal Chae' (Chae Corporal Special Prosecutor Act) and the amendment to the 'Special Act on Support for Jeonse Fraud Victims and Housing Stability' (Jeonse Fraud Special Act), which the Democratic Party insists on submitting and processing at tomorrow's plenary session.

Park said, "There is no agreement yet on other agenda items besides the Itaewon Special Act," and added, "Further discussion is needed, including dialogue with the Speaker of the National Assembly."

When asked if there is a possibility that the People Power Party might refuse the plenary session or not process the Itaewon Special Act if no agreement is reached on the two agenda items, the chief deputy floor leader responded, "If a bill with disagreements or no agreement is submitted tomorrow, it will be difficult to hold the plenary session smoothly," and added, "Sufficient efforts between the ruling and opposition parties are needed to reach an agreement."

Meanwhile, the Presidential Office expressed its welcome on the 1st regarding the ruling and opposition parties' agreement to partially revise and process the 'Itaewon Disaster Truth Investigation Special Act' at the plenary session on the 2nd.

Spokesperson Kim Soo-kyung said in a meeting with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office building, "We welcome the agreement reached today between the ruling and opposition parties on the Itaewon Special Act."