▲ Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, introduces a bill during a plenary meeting of the committee on October 28.
A special counsel bill aimed at investigating allegations of fabricated indictments by the prosecution during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration was introduced to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Wednesday (November 4), led by the Democratic Party of Korea.
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a plenary meeting Wednesday morning to introduce the 'Bill on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor to Investigate Allegations of Fabricated Investigations and Indictments by the Prosecution Service, the National Intelligence Service, the Board of Audit and Inspection, and Other Agencies Under the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration,' and referred it to the First Bill Review Subcommittee.
Lawmakers of the People Power Party strongly protested the bill's introduction and walked out en masse about 11 minutes after the plenary session convened.
Before walking out, Rep. Park Hyung-soo, the People Power Party's ranking member, repeatedly requested an opportunity to speak on points of order from Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party. When Seo declined, stating that budget-related matters would be addressed first, Park retorted, "Is the budget the issue right now?" Meanwhile, Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party strongly objected, saying, "Aren't you trying to wipe out President Lee Jae-myung's trial?"
Returning to the committee room alone about 30 minutes later, Rep. Park was granted the floor for a point of order and criticized, "As members of the National Assembly, which is a constitutional institution, are you proposing, introducing, and trying to pass a bill to dismiss the president's indictment?"
Park also said, "Did you all gather today just to pass a bill that flatters and sides with the president?" adding, "Who in the Republic of Korea can deny that this special counsel bill is designed to save President Lee Jae-myung and clear him of his crimes?"
Chair Seo countered, "Are you aware that we decided to remove the provision on dropping indictments?" emphasizing, "The provision to drop the president's indictment is not before the subcommittee today at all, and repeatedly calling it a 'bill to drop indictments' is in itself spreading false information."
Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom, the Democratic Party's ranking member, also repeatedly explained, "We will completely remove all parts that could be interpreted as dropping the indictment," adding, "We also plan to adjust the 12 investigation targets of the special counsel, consolidating and merging the portions related to President Lee Jae-myung."
Kim further stated, "This is not about 'saving President Lee Jae-myung,' but about rectifying coercive, targeted, and political investigations—including fabricated indictments—that occurred during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," adding, "The fact that there are relatively many cases involving President Lee is merely a consequential result of him being the greatest victim."
Earlier, the special counsel bill proposed by Democratic Party Rep. Cheon Jun-ho in April covers allegations that the prosecution and other agencies conducted targeted investigations against the then-opposition party and political rivals following the inauguration of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, carrying out fabricated investigations and indictments.
The 12 investigation targets include the investigations into allegations of development corruption in Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town, the investigation into Ssangbangwool's unauthorized remittance to North Korea, the investigation into illicit corporate sponsorships for Seongnam FC, and the investigation into allegations of bribery involving Kim Yong, former deputy head of the Institute for Democracy.
The Democratic Party plans to approve the special counsel bill—which was adopted as the official party platform at a general meeting of lawmakers on Tuesday (November 3)—at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's subcommittee and plenary meeting Wednesday afternoon, and then pass it during the National Assembly's plenary session scheduled for Thursday (November 5).
During the committee's bill review, the Democratic Party plans to delete provisions that could be interpreted as granting the special counsel the authority to drop indictments.
The bill originally proposed by the Democratic Party contained a provision allowing the special counsel to take over cases from prosecutors and determine whether to maintain the indictments.
The People Power Party criticized the provision, arguing that considering 8 of the 12 cases subject to the special counsel's investigation involve President Lee Jae-myung, its real purpose was to drop the charges against the president.
In September, President Lee publicly requested during a press conference at the Blue House that the National Assembly remove the provision granting the authority to drop indictments from the bill. In response, the Democratic Party decided to remove the provision that allowed the special prosecutor to demand the transfer of cases currently under investigation, indictment, or prosecution maintenance by prosecutors.
Addressing this, Rep. Park also lashed out during Wednesday morning's plenary session, saying, "Does the National Assembly just insert provisions when the president says insert them, and remove them when the president says remove them? Is the National Assembly the president's minion?"
If the fabricated indictment special counsel bill passes the plenary session, it will become the seventh special counsel probe since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, following the three major special counsel investigations into the fallen Marine, insurrection, and Kim Keonhee, as well as the second comprehensive special counsel, the Coupang permanent special counsel, and the National Election Commission special counsel.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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