Vote on Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Bill on 14th... Opposition Targets with Outdoor Rallies
Ruling Party Cracks Down on Defections..."Push to Appoint Special Inspector"
Debate over 'Lee Jae-myung Judicial Risk'..."Should Be Broadcast Live"
This week, a series of turning points that could change the political landscape are emerging in the political arena. The parliamentary vote on the special investigation law concerning First Lady Kim Geon-hee (Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law), who is under suspicion for 'interference in candidate selection' and 'receiving luxury bags,' and the first trial verdict related to Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act, are expected to reshape the political dynamics.
Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung and floor leader Park Chan-dae are holding placards and shouting slogans at an outdoor rally hosted by the Democratic Party of Korea on the afternoon of the 9th near Sungnyemun in Seoul, titled "2nd National Action Day to Condemn Kim Geon-hee and Yoon Seok-youl's State Power Abuse and Demand a Special Prosecutor." Photo by Yonhap News.
The National Assembly is scheduled to hold a plenary session on the 14th to vote on the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law. With the overwhelming opposition bloc holding 192 seats pushing unilaterally, it is expected that the bill will pass through the National Assembly without major surprises, marking the third time the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law has passed. On the 8th, the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a full meeting and approved the bill solely by the opposition party. The ruling party protested and walked out of the meeting.
The key issue is the defection votes from the ruling party. If President Yoon Seok-yeol exercises his veto power on this Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law, a re-vote requires 200 out of the total 300 members' votes. This means that, besides the large opposition bloc, 8 defection votes from the ruling party are needed. President Yoon is expected to exercise his veto power on this bill as well. In a public address on the 7th, he described the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law as "political agitation." The opposition party has been intensifying its offensive, holding outdoor rallies in Seoul on the 2nd and again on the 9th, demanding acceptance of the special investigation.
The ruling party appears to be cracking down on defection votes. After President Yoon's public address, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, has taken a more measured approach rather than pressuring the presidential office. Han argues that a special inspector is a better solution than a special investigation regarding the controversies surrounding the First Lady. On the 8th, Han posted on his social media, stating, "The President apologized for the current situation and promised personnel reshuffles, suspension of the First Lady's activities, and unconditional appointment of a special inspector," adding, "The party will immediately proceed with the appointment process of the special inspector." The People Power Party plans to hold a party meeting on the 14th, when the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law vote will take place, to discuss matters related to the special inspector.
Vote on Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law on the 14th... Ruling Party Highlights Lee Jae-myung's Judicial Risks
Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is heading to the courtroom on the morning of the 8th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to attend the continuation of the first trial related to the 'Daejang-dong breach of trust and Seongnam FC bribery' case. Photo by Yonhap News
Although the vote on the Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Law is imminent, the opposition party is also anxious. This week will also see the outcome of Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks. On the 15th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Han Seong-jin) is scheduled to deliver the first trial verdict on Lee, who is charged with violating the Public Official Election Act. Lee is accused of disseminating false information related to the Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong development project allegations through interviews with broadcasters during the 20th presidential election campaign. If he is sentenced to a fine exceeding 1 million won in this verdict, Lee will lose his parliamentary seat and be disqualified from running for office for the next five years. Additionally, the Democratic Party will have to return 43.4 billion won in election expenses. If the verdict is unfavorable, Lee's political standing is likely to suffer a significant blow.
The Democratic Party is making an all-out effort to respond to Lee's judicial risks at the party level. On the 5th, it launched the Special Committee on Judicial Justice, dedicated to handling Lee's judicial risks. Jeon Hyun-hee, a Democratic Party lawmaker and chairperson of the Special Committee on Judicial Justice, stated, "The prosecutorial dictatorship regime is abusing investigative and prosecutorial powers to eliminate political opponents," adding, "We will respond with more sophisticated legal arguments and thoroughly explain to the public and the media based on solid logic." The largest intra-party group, the Democratic Innovation Meeting, is collecting petitions calling for Lee's acquittal until today. As of 8:40 a.m. on the day, the number of petition signatures has exceeded the target of one million.
Handonghun, the leader of the People Power Party, is attending an urgent inspection meeting on defense and foreign affairs issues held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
On the other hand, the People Power Party is focusing on highlighting Lee's judicial risks. The party argues that to guarantee the public's right to know and the public interest, the first trial verdict on Lee scheduled for the 15th should be broadcast live. Joo Jin-woo, the People Power Party's legal advisory committee chairman, submitted a request for live broadcast of Lee's first trial verdict to the Seoul Central District Court on the 4th. Han Dong-hoon stated on social media the previous day, "If he is innocent and acquitted, there is no political event more beneficial to Lee and the Democratic Party than broadcasting the trial live." He also described the opposition's outdoor rallies as "intimidation and powerless protests against judges," emphasizing, "They think they are guilty, so they demand that the guilty verdict be changed to not guilty."
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