'Second Comprehensive Special Prosecution Bill' Passes Judiciary Committee... People Power Party Criticizes as 'Inciting Rebellion for Local Elections'

Second Special Prosecution Bill Passed Under Ruling Party's Leadership

The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the ruling party, processed the second comprehensive special prosecution bill at a full committee meeting on the 12th. In response, the People Power Party criticized the move, claiming, "This means they intend to continue inciting rebellion until the local elections."

Choo Mi-ae, Chairperson of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, is leading the ruling party in processing the second comprehensive special prosecution bill at the full committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News

The special prosecution bill includes as new targets for investigation any crimes related to the planning and preparation of rebellion, such as the dissolution of the National Assembly and the establishment of emergency legislative bodies. It also covers allegations that former President Yoon Suk-yeol and others devised response plans and further discussed imposing martial law after the December 3 Martial Law incident.

Allegations related to the Unification Church were excluded, as a separate special prosecution bill aimed at investigating political ties and bribery involving the church has already been proposed, and overlapping investigations could occur. In addition, the mandatory provision requiring at least two prosecutors to be dispatched from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was removed from the bill.

A new provision grants the special prosecutor the authority to maintain prosecutions in cases that are already on trial. The bill also establishes a legal basis for dispatched prosecutors, who are under the direction and supervision of the special prosecutor, to maintain prosecutions in court even if the special prosecutor or assistant special prosecutors are not present.

The selection of the special prosecutor will be carried out by drawing lots, with one candidate each nominated by the Democratic Party of Korea and the largest non-negotiating parliamentary group. The investigation period is set at a total of 170 days, including a 20-day preparation period. The investigation team will consist of five assistant special prosecutors and 100 special investigators. The number of dispatched prosecutors will be reduced from 30 to 15, while the number of dispatched public officials will increase from 70 to 130.

The People Power Party expressed strong opposition to the passage of this second comprehensive special prosecution bill. At the full committee meeting, Assemblywoman Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party stated, "The bill targets heads of local governments for investigation," and added, "In short, this is an attempt to continue inciting rebellion until the local elections and to disgrace incumbent local government leaders."

In contrast, the Democratic Party maintains that additional investigations are needed to address shortcomings in the three major special prosecution cases (Kim Keon-hee, rebellion, and Chae Marine Corps). Assemblyman Park Ji-won of the Democratic Party said, "Through the second special prosecution, we must find the reservoir where Kim Keon-hee and Choi Eun-soon have hidden cash," and added, "These two women are the kind of people who would drink lye for money."