Filibuster underway on the 'Chaesangbyeong Special Prosecutor Act'... Ruling party, Joo Jin-woo speaks for 5 hours, Park Jun-tae for 6 hours 50 minutes

First Opposition Debate by Yang Sang-beom Lasts Over 4 Hours 10 Minutes
Proponent Debate by Park Ju-min 47 Minutes, Shin Jang-sik 30 Minutes
Lee Jun-seok Faces High Chance of Missing Debate Despite Being 8th Time

An unlimited debate (filibuster) is underway at the National Assembly on the 4th to block the passage of the so-called 'Special Prosecutor Act for Chaesangbyeong' proposed solely by the opposition without bipartisan agreement.

Yoo Sang-beom, the ruling party's floor leader on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and a member of the People Power Party, took the podium as the first opposing debater around 3:40 p.m. on the 3rd. In his remarks lasting over 4 hours and 10 minutes, Yoo mentioned the procedures for pushing the special prosecutor law without bipartisan agreement and the provisions excluding the ruling party from recommending special prosecutor candidates. Yoo pointed out, "The toxic clauses of the special prosecutor law for the fallen Marines, newly proposed as the ruling party's number one bill and adopted as the Democratic Party's party line, blatantly show that the opposition, including the Democratic Party, is like a brake-less train rushing toward impeachment."

On the 4th, Park Joon-tae, a member of the People Power Party, is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) opposing the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Bill' at the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Yoo also expressed the opinion that the current special prosecutor law violates the president's authority to appoint public officials by allowing the president to appoint only candidates recommended by the opposition, disregarding the customary bipartisan agreement in preparing special prosecutor laws. He said, "Even the BBK special prosecutor was effectively pushed forward by consensus, as the candidate at the time, Lee Myung-bak, expressed willingness to accept the special prosecutor," adding, "Despite ongoing investigations by the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and a second investigation by the prosecution scheduled, the Democratic Party unilaterally forced the special prosecutor law through by relying solely on the logic of majority rule."

Park Joo-min, a member of the Democratic Party, came forward as a proponent of the special prosecutor law. Park rebutted Yoo's claims and spoke for about 47 minutes. He had previously led the special prosecutor law in the 21st National Assembly and circulated letters to People Power Party members urging support for the law.

Park said regarding the ruling party's claim that the special prosecutor law has political motives, "(Yoo) bases this on the fact that the case was reported to the CIO and the special prosecutor was proposed two days later, but this was to prevent evidence from being destroyed during the time between the bill's proposal, passage, and the start of the investigation." Regarding the claim that excluding the ruling party from recommending special prosecutor candidates is unconstitutional, Park rebutted, "The Constitutional Court already ruled on this during the 'Choi Soon-sil special prosecutor' case," adding, "At that time, the Constitutional Court judged that there was no problem and that it did not violate the principle of due process."

Joo Jin-woo, a first-term member of the People Power Party and former prosecutor, conducted the opposing debate after Park, spending over 5 hours and 10 minutes. Joo said, "As a parent who will soon send their child to the military, I want to examine whether there were any problems with the investigation and measures taken by the investigation team led by Park Jung-hoon." He added, "The military is a closed organization where human rights incidents frequently occur, and it is true that due process is less guaranteed in investigations compared to the prosecution and police," pointing out that this case was "rushed with insufficient personnel to reach a quick conclusion."

Seo Young-kyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is talking with Kim Sung-hwan during the second day of the unlimited debate (filibuster) on the 'Special Prosecutor Act for Chae Sang-byeong' at the National Assembly plenary session on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

When Joo said, "In cases like the Daejang-dong corruption, if ten Democratic Party figures were booked within ten days and told to come for investigation, would Democratic Party members accept that?" and "Being booked as a suspect is a significant disadvantage," the Democratic Party immediately demanded an apology for assuming booking and protested.

Joo pointed out the bias of the special prosecutor law. He said, "The president's right to request reconsideration is a constitutional right and a power granted by the people," adding, "There should be respect for that, but sending a stronger law seems to induce the exercise of the reconsideration right." He also argued that with pressing issues like low birth rates and youth problems, the 22nd National Assembly should prioritize livelihood bills rather than continuing to discuss the special prosecutor law.

Shin Jang-sik, a member of the Reform Innovation Party, spoke for about 30 minutes as a proponent of the special prosecutor law. Shin emphasized, "The Presidential Office is the core investigation target," and stressed, "Only the opposition should recommend the special prosecutor to ensure political neutrality and independence."

Park Joon-tae, a member of the People Power Party, is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) opposing the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Bill' at the National Assembly plenary session on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Park Joon-tae, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, conducted an opposing debate lasting an astonishing 6 hours and 50 minutes. Park began his remarks around 2:30 a.m. and spoke until about 9:20 a.m. He said, "The reason why a proper fact-finding has not been done even a year after the incident is because there are those who obstruct the activities of investigative agencies that should be the main agents of fact-finding and exert political pressure. Who are these people?" He asked, "The police investigation results are imminent, and the CIO, which was actively investigating under the leadership of the Democratic Party, is producing results, so why do they insist on a special prosecutor, saying they cannot trust the investigation results even before they come out?"

Park said, "What is the logic that says we cannot trust state investigative agencies and that special prosecutors appointed by the Democratic Party and the Reform Innovation Party must investigate?" He added, "There was such a precedent in the National Intelligence Service scandal, but if you want a fair investigation, the lawmakers here are the ones who should change the law when it goes beyond common sense. If a party with partisan characteristics recommends the investigating prosecutor, and the People Power Party is excluded, and candidates recommended by the Democratic Party and other parties are appointed, can that be a fair investigation?"

As of 10 a.m. that day, Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party was conducting a pro-special prosecutor law debate. Next, Kwak Kyu-taek of the People Power Party was scheduled to conduct an opposing debate. The next scheduled speaker was Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Innovation Party, who was to speak in favor, but it is unlikely he will take the podium. The filibuster is expected to end about five hours after the Democratic Party submitted a motion to end it around 3:45 p.m. the previous day. The filibuster can also end if more than three-fifths of the total members agree 24 hours after the motion submission. Some speculate that time will be drawn out to block Lee's speech. Na Kyung-won, who had planned to filibuster, announced she would not participate, saying she would "yield to a first-term lawmaker."