Kim Jaewon: "Is the Pro-Ruling Faction Leading Double Special Prosecutor Defection? No Such Possibility"

"The Special Prosecutor Is Not Just Kim Yeo-sa's Issue... The Opposition's Impeachment Attempt"

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, expressed concern over the occurrence of up to four dissenting votes during the re-vote on the dual special prosecution law (involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee and Chae Sang-byeong), saying, "104 members are firmly holding their positions, but the future is the problem," and added, "If the political situation shakes, there may be people who think differently."

On the 7th, Kim said on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "In the past, there were always about four problematic votes during the vote on the Chae Sang-byeong special prosecution law," and emphasized, "The future is the problem."

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, is heading to his car after finishing a dinner meeting at a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

When asked whether the 'Chinhan (Chin Han-donghoon) faction might have agreed to cast affirmative votes during the re-vote on the dual special prosecution law,' he flatly denied, saying, "There is no such possibility." The day before, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, had a private dinner with about 20 members of the Chinhan faction, and this has led to analysis that Leader Han showed an intention to take the initiative on current political issues, including suspicions surrounding First Lady Kim Geon-hee.

Kim said, "This issue is not simply about First Lady Kim Geon-hee alone but an attempt by the opposition party to push for impeachment," adding, "Therefore, the judgment will not be based solely on the issue of First Lady Kim, and if seen that way, most of the 104 members will stay together until the end."

Regarding the pointed observation that the Chinhan faction meeting coincided with President Yoon Seok-youl's departure abroad, making the timing peculiar, he responded, "The situation is ambiguous, but I don't think it went that far," and added, "I don't think it was intentional." Kim further explained, "It is natural for the party leader to meet with affiliated lawmakers to discuss current issues, and the president's overseas trip was probably planned a long time ago."

Meanwhile, the special law concerning First Lady Kim, which was voted on anonymously on the 5th, failed to pass as it did not meet the quorum with 194 votes in favor, 104 against, 1 abstention, and 1 invalid vote. All members of the People Power Party (108 members) and all opposition party members, including the Democratic Party (192 members), participated in the vote. Assuming all opposition members voted in favor, it appears that up to four dissenting votes came from the ruling party.