"Secured Justification"... Opposition Targets Kim Geon-hee with 'Yang-Myung-Ju Special Investigation'

President Yoon Suk-yeol's 2nd anniversary press conference has instead served as a justification for the opposition to intensify their offensive against the ruling party. The opposition is gaining momentum in the argument that, since President Yoon publicly rejected the demands for special investigations into Chae Sang-byeong and First Lady Kim Geon-hee, they must enter a strong offensive mode in response to the public sentiment ahead of the general election.

The Democratic Party of Korea has interpreted President Yoon's press conference as a refusal of bipartisan cooperation and has entered preparation mode to propose a special investigation bill related to First Lady Kim. Following the announcement of the "250,000 won Livelihood Recovery Support Fund" as the first bill of the 22nd National Assembly, this is likely to become the Democratic Party's second bill. The content of the bill is also expected to be raised to the highest level. They are even considering including all aspects of the so-called "Yang Myeong-ju (Yangpyeong Expressway suspicion, Kim Geon-hee's luxury handbag, stock price manipulation suspicion)" related to First Lady Kim.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party and a key figure in the opposition's offensive against the ruling party, stated in an emergency press release immediately after President Yoon's press conference, "We plan to reintroduce the special investigation bill on the stock price manipulation of Deutsche Motors related to First Lady Kim," adding, "We are carefully considering whether to include the luxury handbag (bribery suspicion)." This indicates that the proposal of the special investigation bill concerning First Lady Kim is a foregone conclusion, with adjustments being made to the intensity of the bill.

They have also engaged in behind-the-scenes coordination with the broader opposition. The Democratic Party held a discussion on "National Assembly Prosecution Reform Legislative Strategy" with the Innovation Party for the Homeland the day before President Yoon's press conference. The core of this is to completely separate the prosecution's investigation and indictment functions, aiming to re-restrict the prosecution's investigative authority that was restored under the Yoon administration. The Democratic Party's efforts to secure both the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee are widely interpreted as a strategic move with prosecution reform in mind.

There are also signs of potential consolidation among minor opposition parties centered around the Innovation Party for the Homeland. This is to prepare for a full-scale opposition offensive to secure a two-thirds majority for a re-vote on the special investigation bill, in case President Yoon rejects the bill again. Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, and New Future Party are positive about forming a parliamentary negotiation bloc with the Innovation Party for the Homeland.

Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University's Department of Political Science and Diplomacy said, "If the special investigation bill passes on a re-vote, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration could immediately face a lame-duck period," adding, "Once the 22nd National Assembly begins, the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party for the Homeland are likely to strongly push the government and ruling party, intensifying the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties."