People Power Party to Propose Own 'Martial Law Special Investigation Act'... Kwon Seong-dong Says "Better the Lesser Evil Than the Worst"

108 Party Members to Propose Bill as Official Stance
Independent Special Prosecutor Act Expected on the 17th
Third-Party Recommendation System for Special Prosecutor Candidates
Excluding Crimes Such as Foreign Exchange Offenses and Treason Propaganda

On the 16th, the People Power Party decided to independently propose the so-called 'Emergency Martial Law Special Prosecutor Act' related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident. All 108 members of the party reached a consensus as the party's official stance, and the special prosecutor bill is expected to be proposed as early as the 17th.

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, said to reporters after a party meeting held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, "The Democratic Party's special prosecutor bill is highly pro-North Korean and includes the crime of treason, which does not align with the values of our constitution. We will propose the special prosecutor bill as the party's official stance, including only the necessary parts."

Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The People Power Party had opposed the special prosecutor bill as the party's official stance until now. However, during the re-vote on the internal rebellion special prosecutor bill in the National Assembly on the 8th, 6 out of 108 ruling party members cast dissenting votes, and with only 2 more dissenting votes, even if the acting president exercised a veto, the bill could not be blocked. This led to the judgment that it was necessary to propose their own special prosecutor bill. Floor leader Kwon explained, "The principle of introducing a special prosecutor is only when the fairness of existing investigative agencies cannot be expected or when existing investigative agencies neglect investigations. However, since the Democratic Party, based on its overwhelming number of seats, is trying to propose and pass a special prosecutor bill full of unconstitutional and toxic clauses, the members agreed that the lesser evil is better than the worst law."

The People Power Party decided to adopt a third-party recommendation system for nominating special prosecutor candidates, in which the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court recommends three candidates and the president appoints one, which was a contentious issue in the special prosecutor bills submitted by the Democratic Party and other opposition parties. The crime of treason related to allegations of President Yoon Seok-yeol inciting a North Korean attack and internal rebellion propaganda and incitement, which could include many People Power Party members as investigation targets, will be excluded from the special prosecutor's investigation. Instead, the investigation will focus on allegations that the president, the Minister of National Defense, and other administrative officials and military personnel attempted to seize control of the National Assembly and effectively paralyze its powers, as well as allegations of effectively paralyzing the functions of the National Election Commission. The special prosecutor's investigative personnel will also be significantly reduced, and the investigation period shortened.

It was reported that opinions opposing the proposal of the special prosecutor bill as before were also raised at the party meeting that day. Floor leader Kwon said, "There were members who expressed opposition, but the conclusion was agreed upon according to the leadership's will," adding, "I am grateful that those who opposed followed the leadership."