In response to the opposition's special prosecution attacks such as the 'Kim Geon-hee stock manipulation allegations,' the ruling party raised calls for a 'Kim Jung-sook and Kim Hye-kyung special prosecution.' The opposition criticized this as merely an attempt to divert attention.
On the 7th, Kim Min-jeon, a member-elect of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "What I want to ask President Yoon Seok-yeol and the People Power Party leadership is, instead of accepting a special prosecution for Kim Geon-hee's alleged receipt of a 3 million won luxury handbag, I hope they propose a counter-special prosecution for Kim Hye-kyung's alleged embezzlement of at least 300 million won from the national treasury and Kim Jung-sook's alleged accumulation of clothes and accessories." He also argued that special prosecutions should be conducted regarding the Moon Jae-in administration's alleged interference in the Ulsan mayoral election and the killing of government officials in the West Sea incident.
The Democratic Party criticized Kim's claims as out of touch with public sentiment. Han Min-su, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said during a press briefing after the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "No matter how much he is a member-elect, isn't he soon to become a People Power Party lawmaker? How would the public perceive such reckless proposals or statements?" He added, "Many citizens are aware of how the Yoon administration's prosecutorial power is being abused and used unfairly and irrationally."
Other opposition parties also pointed out that Kim's claims are merely attempts to divert attention. Kim Bo-hyeop, spokesperson for the Party for National Innovation, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "It is an absurd claim. One person (Kim Jung-sook) has no criminal charges, another (Kim Hye-kyung) is currently undergoing trial, and only one (Kim Geon-hee) is free from the prosecutorial dictatorship regime."
Meanwhile, the opposition is pressuring the Yoon administration by stating that they will reintroduce the special prosecution bill for Kim Geon-hee, which President Yoon vetoed in December last year, in the 22nd National Assembly. On the 6th, Choi Min-seok, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing, "If President Yoon wants to communicate with the public through the 2nd anniversary press conference on the 9th, he should declare that he will accept the special prosecution bill for Kim Geon-hee." Jo Guk, leader of the Party for National Innovation, emphasized on the previous day's CBS Radio program 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Battle,' "(President Yoon) is blocking investigations involving the living power himself after becoming president. The Kim Geon-hee special prosecution bill is related to Kim Geon-hee. So why is it being blocked?"
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