Ruling Party Walks Out in Protest of Special Prosecutor Bills
Plenary Session Vote Likely on the 20th
A special prosecutor investigation request concerning allegations related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, passed the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee's bill subcommittee on the 19th.
On the same day, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held its first bill review subcommittee meeting and approved the 'Special Prosecutor Investigation Request for the Truth Behind the Kim Keon-hee Stock Manipulation Case' and the 'Special Prosecutor Investigation Request for the Truth Behind the Incheon Customs Drug Investigation Pressure Allegation Case.'
Members of the People Power Party opposed the handling of the permanent special prosecutor investigation requests and left the meeting, not participating in the vote.
On the 19th, a subcommittee meeting to review the permanent special prosecutor bills for the investigation of allegations related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee and the investigation of allegations of external pressure on drug investigations was held at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.
The 'Kim Keon-hee Permanent Special Prosecutor Bill' that passed the bill subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on this day targets investigations into allegations against Mrs. Kim, including ▲ stock manipulation suspicions involving Deutsche Motors and Sambu Construction ▲ bribery-like sponsorship allegations related to Covana Contents ▲ luxury handbag receipt allegations ▲ and interference in the route change of the Yangpyeong Expressway.
The 'Permanent Special Prosecutor Bill on Drug Investigation Pressure Allegations' targets the investigation of suspicions that arose during the police investigation into customs officials' involvement when Malaysian drug syndicate members smuggled methamphetamine through Incheon Airport in January 2023.
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee plans to hold a plenary session in the afternoon to handle the two permanent special prosecutor bills. Since the ruling party opposes them, there is a possibility that these agenda items will be approved solely by the opposition party during the plenary session.
The opposition party intends to process the two permanent special prosecutor bills at the plenary session on the 20th.
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