People Power Party Forms Special Prosecutor Response TF... "Political Oppression and Disgrace"

Emergency General Assembly Convened by Opposition Party... Seeking Countermeasures to Special Prosecutor Investigations
Raids and Travel Bans Decried as "Clear Abuse of Authority"

As investigations by the three major special prosecutors (the Insurrection Special Prosecutor, the Kim Geonhee Special Prosecutor, and the Chae Sangbyeong Special Prosecutor) intensify and the level of pressure targeting the People Power Party rises, tension within the party is increasing. The People Power Party has responded by immediately deciding to establish a body to deal with the special prosecutor investigations.

On the afternoon of July 9, 2025, the People Power Party held an emergency general assembly at the National Assembly and decided to launch a special prosecutor response task force (TF). Park Sunghoon, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after the meeting, "All attending lawmakers unanimously agreed to establish the body." Although the specific timing has not yet been determined, the TF is expected to be launched as early as this week.

Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on July 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The People Power Party has characterized the special prosecutor's raids as "political retaliation." Song Eonseok, Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader, strongly criticized the special prosecutor team led by Min Junggi for raiding the home and office of lawmaker Yoon Sanghyun the previous day, stating, "This is not a legitimate investigation, but an attempt to disgrace an opposition party lawmaker."

Regarding the recent travel ban imposed on lawmaker Kim Seongkyo by the special prosecutor, Chairman Song denounced it as "a clear abuse of authority," adding, "I cannot understand on what grounds a travel ban is imposed without any investigation or summons for questioning."

Another People Power Party lawmaker also criticized the travel ban on lawmaker Kim, calling it "an excessive measure that could damage his reputation." The lawmaker added, "It was a normal request from local residents to build an interchange (IC)," and emphasized, "As a member of the National Assembly representing the region, it is only natural to fulfill such duties. Treating this as if it were a special privilege is an insult to a lawmaker, who is a constitutional institution."

The party also pushed back against the Insurrection Special Act proposed by Park Chandae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea. The previous day, Park had introduced the "Insurrection Special Act," which calls for the establishment of a special court to handle insurrection trials, and stipulates that if former President Yoon Sukyeol is found guilty of insurrection, the People Power Party would be denied state subsidies.

Chairman Song labeled this as a "law to pressure the opposition" and announced plans to enact a so-called "Anti-Dictatorship Special Act." The key points of the Anti-Dictatorship Special Act include: restrictions on presidential pardons and reinstatements granted as political favors; a ban on unlimited investigations by special prosecutors; a prohibition on political pressure for resignation of heads of public institutions with guaranteed terms; a cutoff of state subsidies to parties that produce offenders who violate sanctions against North Korea, such as through illegal remittances; and the continuation of ongoing criminal trials against the president.

Despite the strong backlash, a sense of tension is also palpable within the party. This is because the scope of the special prosecutor's investigation could fully expose incumbent lawmakers and the candidate nomination process from the last election. There are also concerns that, depending on the outcome of the trials, the party could face consequences such as the return of presidential election expenses or even a constitutional review for party dissolution.