Democratic Party Proposes Revised Third-Party Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Bill Accepting Ruling Party's Criticism (Update)

Democratic Party Holds Supreme Council Meeting to Propose Special Prosecutor Law Amendment
Desperate Measure to Win Over Ruling Party Defectors
Investigation Limited to Deutsche Motors and Myung Taekyun

The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to narrow the scope of investigation in the special prosecution law related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, which is scheduled to be processed at the next plenary session, and to incorporate provisions for third-party recommendations. This move is seen as a desperate measure to secure dissenting votes from the ruling party, considering the possibility of President Yoon Suk-yeol exercising his veto power and the subsequent re-vote.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated in a briefing after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th, "We have decided to submit a revised special prosecution law on First Lady Kim Keon-hee to the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 14th." He added, "Although there are various allegations of misconduct and involvement in state affairs manipulation surrounding the First Lady, the scope will be significantly narrowed to focus on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation allegations and the so-called Myung Tae-gyun Gate, which was triggered by Myung Tae-gyun, specifically the First Lady's alleged interference in candidate nominations and election meddling. We will submit a revised bill that accepts third-party recommendations."

The Democratic Party proposed the revision because even if the bill passes the plenary session, it has repeatedly been vetoed by President Yoon Suk-yeol’s exercise of veto power and failed in re-votes due to not securing two-thirds of the seats. It is interpreted that the Democratic Party changed its strategy to secure enough seats to neutralize the veto.

Regarding the background for submitting the revised bill, the spokesperson said, "What the public demands is opposition to war and acceptance of the special prosecution for the First Lady, isn't it? Can the Democratic Party not accept the demands of Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and the People Power Party itself in order to achieve this?"