National Assembly Legislation Committee to Review Delayed Second Comprehensive and Unification Church Special Prosecutor Bills

Ruling and Opposition Parties Show Clear Differences Over Scope of Investigation

On the afternoon of January 7, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly will convene a plenary session to review the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act and the Unification Church Special Prosecutor Act.

On December 10 last year, Chu Mi-ae, Chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

During this plenary session, the committee plans to table both the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act (a bill for the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged rebellion, treason, and abuse of state power by Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee) and the Unification Church Special Prosecutor Acts, which have been separately proposed by the Democratic Party, the People Power Party, and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party.

The Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act, which follows the previous three major special prosecutor investigations (rebellion, Kim Keon-hee, and the Chae Marine case), targets 14 issues for investigation, including those related to the December 3 Martial Law. The People Power Party is opposing the move, claiming that the Democratic Party is pursuing a “politically engineered special prosecutor” ahead of the local elections.

The Democratic Party is aiming to swiftly pass both special prosecutor bills at the National Assembly plenary session scheduled for January 8. However, there are concerns that it is practically impossible for the committee to complete all the necessary procedures-including the plenary session, referral to and approval by the Subcommittee on Bill Review 1, and another plenary session for final approval-within just one day before the plenary session. The People Power Party has warned that if the ruling party brings the special prosecutor bills to the plenary session without consultation with the opposition, they will launch a filibuster (unlimited debate).