"The People Power Party Will Also Fail"... Democratic Party Furious Over Rejection of Double Special Investigation Bill Revote

198 Votes for Internal Rebellion Special Prosecutor Act · 196 Votes for Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Act Approval
Park Chan-dae "Will Quickly Re-push Internal Rebellion Special Prosecutor Act"

After the so-called 'Special Investigation Act on Treason' and 'Special Investigation Act on Kim Geon-hee' were finally rejected in a re-vote in the National Assembly, the Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers shouted slogans such as "Dissolve the People Power Party, the burden of the people and the enemy of the constitution." Both special investigation acts were put to a re-vote following the exercise of veto power (request for reconsideration) by Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Acting President Choe Sang-mok, requiring a two-thirds majority of attending lawmakers, but were ultimately rejected.

On the afternoon of the 8th, after a re-vote resulted in the rejection of the so-called 'Special Investigation Act on Internal Rebellion' and the 'Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation Act,' Democratic Party lawmakers condemned the People Power Party in the National Assembly main building. Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of the 8th, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at a protest rally held at the National Assembly, "It has been confirmed that there are not even eight lawmakers within the People Power Party who have conscience and conviction." He mentioned, "Like Sodom and Gomorrah, which perished because there were not ten righteous people, the People Power Party will also perish." Sodom and Gomorrah are cities mentioned in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, destroyed due to corruption and evil acts to the extent that ten righteous people could not be found. As a devout Protestant, he directly criticized the People Power Party by quoting this biblical passage. With all 300 members of the National Assembly present, passing a reconsidered bill requires an additional 8 votes beyond the 192 votes from the opposition parties.

Floor leader Park asserted, "There were serious violations of the constitution and laws, and opposing investigation and punishment for these can only be done by accomplices of treason." Immediately after the two special investigation acts were rejected, Democratic Party lawmakers left the plenary session and gathered on the steps in front of the main building of the National Assembly holding placards that read "Dissolve the People Power Party shielding treason."

At the protest rally, Democratic Party lawmakers criticized the People Power Party as a "party sympathizing with treason," "unconstitutional party," "enemy of the constitution," and "burden to the people." They shouted slogans three times, emphasizing, "Immediately arrest 'the mastermind of treason' Yoon Seok-yeol."

The Democratic Party announced that it will reintroduce the Special Investigation Act on Treason, and the Innovation Party for Korea will re-pursue the Special Investigation Act on Kim Geon-hee. They intend to re-submit the bills and go through the National Assembly plenary session approval process again.