Special Investigation Committee Activity Period Extendable Within 1 Year and 3 Months
Chairperson Decided Through Ruling and Opposition Party Consultation
After the ruling and opposition parties agreed to amend some provisions, the "Special Act on Guaranteeing the Rights of Victims, Fact-Finding, and Prevention of Recurrence of the October 29 Itaewon Disaster (Itaewon Special Act)" reintroduced was passed by the National Assembly plenary session on the 2nd. It has been 551 days since the Itaewon disaster occurred.
On that day, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the afternoon and passed the bill jointly proposed by Yoon Jae-ok of the People Power Party and Hong Ik-pyo of the Democratic Party with 256 votes in favor (98.84%) out of 259 members present, and 3 abstentions (1.16%). The three abstaining members were Seo Byung-soo, Woo Shin-gu, and Kim Geun-tae of the People Power Party.
Previously, the opposition party had passed the Itaewon Special Act unilaterally, but President Yoon Suk-yeol exercised his right to request reconsideration (veto) in January, citing some toxic provisions, leading to a re-vote procedure in the National Assembly.
On the 29th of last month, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, expressed regret over President Yoon Suk-yeol's veto of the Itaewon Special Act during a summit meeting, and President Yoon also stepped back, mentioning resolving legal issues.
Subsequently, the People Power Party and the Democratic Party agreed to amend the key issues of the bill the day before and to process it in the plenary session on that day. Then, in the morning, the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee consecutively held meetings to approve the bill and forwarded it to the plenary session.
According to the amended bill, the special investigation committee's authority to conduct investigations ex officio and the right to request search warrants were deleted, while the provision allowing the special investigation committee's activity period to be within one year, extendable within three months, was maintained.
Regarding the composition of the special investigation committee, there can be a total of nine members: one chairperson and four members recommended by each of the ruling and opposition parties. The chairperson, who is recommended by the Speaker of the National Assembly, was also revised to be decided through 'consultation' between the ruling and opposition parties instead of the previous 'agreement.'
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