Opposition Party Changing Rules, Pushing for Exclusive Permanent Special Prosecutor
Also Holding Street Rallies... "Aiming for 10 Million Signatures Campaign"
The Democratic Party of Korea is increasing pressure both inside and outside the National Assembly regarding allegations against First Lady Kim Geon-hee. Within the Assembly, they are pursuing a two-track strategy involving the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act and amendments to the Standing Special Prosecutor Act rules. Outside the Assembly, they are organizing the "National Rally to Condemn Kim Geon-hee's State Power Abuse."
On the afternoon of the 28th, opposition members of the National Assembly's Steering Committee's Subcommittee on Operational Improvements forcibly passed amendments to the Assembly rules. The core of these amendments is to prevent the ruling party (the President's affiliated party) from recommending a standing special prosecutor in matters related to the President and the President's family. All chairpersons of the standing committees, which must review the bill before it is submitted to the plenary session, belong to the Democratic Party. Park Seong-jun, chair of the Subcommittee on Operational Improvements, approved the passage, and Park Chan-dae, chair of the Steering Committee, along with Jeong Cheong-rae, chair of the Judiciary Committee, will proceed with subsequent procedures.
On January 5th, opposition party lawmakers and officials held a rally on the steps in front of the National Assembly main building, urging President Yoon Seok-yeol to accept a special investigation into 'Kim Gun-hee and the 5 Billion Club.' Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
The Standing Special Prosecutor Act is a system that allows the National Assembly to appoint a special prosecutor by vote without separate legislation. According to the National Assembly rules governing the operation of the Standing Special Prosecutor Act, the authority to recommend special prosecutors is evenly distributed between the ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Party argues that when appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the President and the President's family, the ruling party's recommendation rights should be excluded due to conflicts of interest. Compared to individual special prosecutor laws, the Standing Special Prosecutor Act limits the scope of investigation, duration, and personnel.
The Democratic Party also plans to pass the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act in the National Assembly in November. The Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act, which has been repeatedly passed and repealed since the 21st National Assembly, is now in its third iteration. The bill is scheduled to be put to a vote at the plenary session on November 14, one day before the first trial verdict for Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, which is expected on November 15. The Democratic Party has stated that even if President Yoon exercises his veto power against the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act, they will hold a re-vote on November 28.
Democratic Party of Korea Floor Deputy Leader Kim Yong-man (left) and Floor Policy Chief Deputy Leader Kim Yong-min submitted the "Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act" bill to the National Assembly Legislative Affairs Office on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min
They are also engaging in street protests. The Democratic Party will hold the "National Rally to Condemn Kim Geon-hee's State Power Abuse" near Seoul Station on Saturday, November 2. Chief spokesperson Cho Seung-rae said, "We have decided to conduct a nationwide signature campaign," adding, "We aim for 10 million signatures through both online and offline efforts."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
