[Anchor]
A bill to amend the Special Counsel Act, which would extend the investigation period for the 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel, was tabled at the National Assembly plenary session today (July 20) under the leadership of the pan-ruling bloc. The People Power Party (PPP) protested, calling it a "special counsel for suppressing the opposition party," and has launched a filibuster.
Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the story.
[Reporter]
The amendment to the 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel Act was tabled at the National Assembly plenary session this afternoon by the pan-ruling bloc.
The bill includes provisions to extend the investigation period by 30 days and increase the number of dispatched public officials from 130 to 150.
The 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel, launched with the purpose of investigating insufficient aspects of the "3 major special counsels"—including the insurrection case, the Kim Keon-hee case, and the Chae Hae-byeong case—has already extended its activity period twice since its launch in February and was scheduled to conclude on July 24.
The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) emphasized that the extension is necessary, stating that the special counsel's investigation into key figures of the insurrection is entering a critical phase.
[Interview] Han Byung-do / DPK Floor Leader: "We cannot halt a special counsel investigation that is currently in full swing just because of time constraints."
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The People Power Party began an unlimited debate, or filibuster, to oppose the passage of the bill, arguing that the government has been using "special counsels for suppressing the opposition party" for over 400 days since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
[Interview] Jeong Jeom-sik / PPP Floor Leader: "This is a continuation of a public security-focused political climate and a legislative tyranny that clearly shows the contradictions and hypocrisy of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
Yoon Sang-hyun, a PPP lawmaker who served as the first speaker, argued that the special counsel has degenerated into a "permanent political retaliation agency."
[Interview] Yoon Sang-hyun / PPP Lawmaker: "This is a case that clearly shows that (the Lee Jae-myung administration) is uniquely abusing special counsels as a tool for political retaliation."
On the other hand, DPK lawmaker Kim Han-kyu, who took the floor as the second speaker, countered that it is a conflict of interest for PPP lawmakers currently under investigation for obstruction of arrest to engage in opposition debates.
[Interview] Kim Han-kyu / DPK lawmaker: "Isn't the opposition to the extension of the Comprehensive Special Counsel intended to block investigations into their own party members?"
If more than 180 lawmakers from the pan-ruling bloc vote in favor tomorrow afternoon, 24 hours after the start of the unlimited debate, the debate will be forcibly concluded and a vote will be held.
(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Park Seon-soo | Graphics: Lee Jong-jeong)
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