"Second Special Prosecutor Act" Expected to Pass Plenary Session Today... Ruling and Opposition Parties to Vote After Filibuster Standoff

Cheon Haram, First Filibuster Speaker, Holds All-Night Protest for Over 18 Hours

The "Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act," aimed at investigating allegations of rebellion, foreign exchange offenses, and manipulation of state affairs involving former President Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Geon-hee, will be addressed at the plenary session of the National Assembly on January 16.

Cheon Haram, floor leader of the Reform New Party, is conducting an unlimited debate (filibuster) on the "Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Truth Investigation of the Acts of Treason, Foreign Exchange Offenses, and State Affairs Manipulation by Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Geon-hee" during the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The People Power Party and the Reform New Party began a filibuster (a legal obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate) on January 15 in protest after the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act was introduced to the plenary session. Cheon Haram, floor leader of the Reform New Party and the first speaker in the filibuster, stated, "The essence of the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act is the Democratic Party's sense of privilege and hypocrisy," adding, "What we need is a special prosecutor to root out corruption among those in power, specifically regarding the Unification Church and the cash-for-nomination scandal." The People Power Party is also protesting, with Representative Jang Donghyuk launching a hunger strike.

The Democratic Party of Korea plans to end the debate and process the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act through a vote on the afternoon of January 16, 24 hours after the start of the filibuster. The core of the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act is to consolidate unresolved issues from the existing three major special prosecutor cases-Kim Geon-hee, rebellion, and the death of a Marine-into a single follow-up investigation.

The investigation will cover allegations such as the handling of the "Noh Sangwon notebook" and suspicions regarding the establishment of a national emergency legislative body, allegations of nomination interference by former President Yoon Seok-yeol and his wife, suspicions of preferential treatment in the renovation of Kim Geon-hee's official residence, and complaints and reports related to lobbying for the exoneration of Lim Seonggeun (former commander of the 1st Marine Division) in the Marine's death case. The investigation period may last up to 170 days, potentially extending the special prosecutor's probe through the local elections in June.