The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, are pushing to bring the Kim Geon-hee and Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bills to the National Assembly plenary session on the 19th. This comes just a week after Speaker Woo Won-shik proposed on the 11th to postpone the special prosecution bills until after the Chuseok holiday.
According to political circles on the 18th, the Democratic Party plans to submit three bills at the National Assembly plenary session the next day: the special prosecution bill for Mrs. Kim Geon-hee, the special prosecution bill for marine corps personnel, and the local currency bill. Earlier, on the 12th, the Democratic Party notified its members to be on emergency standby until the 22nd, considering the possibility that the People Power Party might initiate a filibuster (unlimited debate) to block the special prosecution bills.
The investigation targets of the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution bill include eight allegations: Mrs. Kim’s suspected stock price manipulation of Deutsche Motors, allegations of receiving luxury handbags, suspected low-price stock purchases, and additional allegations of interference in the April 10 general election nominations.
The opposition’s fourth proposed Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill centers on the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court recommending four candidates for special prosecutors, from which the Democratic Party and other opposition parties outside the negotiation group narrow down to two, and the president appoints one of them. A new provision was added allowing the opposition to request a re-nomination if they deem the Chief Justice’s recommended candidates unsuitable.
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
The local currency bill, promoted by Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, will also be submitted to the plenary session. The bill legally mandates central government financial support for local love gift certificates. The Democratic Party had intended to pass the bill before the Chuseok holiday to secure public support, but Speaker Woo’s proposal to postpone delayed it.
The People Power Party is considering an immediate filibuster to block the bill’s passage if the special prosecution bills are brought to the plenary session. If the Democratic Party submits the three bills separately to the plenary session, similar to the 'Broadcasting 4 Laws' case, the People Power Party is expected to engage in a filibuster lasting at least three days. If the bills are actually submitted the next day and the People Power Party begins a filibuster, the Democratic Party is expected to file a 'motion to end unlimited debate,' forcing a closure of debate after 24 hours with the approval of at least three-fifths of the members present on the 20th.
Even if the Kim Geon-hee and Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bills pass the plenary session, the bills are likely to be returned to the National Assembly for re-vote due to President Yoon Seok-yeol’s exercise of the veto power. In this case, President Yoon would have vetoed the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution bill three times. The Democratic Party and opposition plan to accelerate the impeachment motion if President Yoon continues to exercise the veto power.
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