The Democratic Party of Korea (DP) is pushing to further extend the investigation period and increase the number of investigative staff for the comprehensive special counsel, which is investigating unresolved issues and new allegations related to the three major special counsel cases: the insurrection case, the Kim Keon-hee case, and the Chae Hae-byeong case.

The DP also plans to introduce a system for "prosecutors for indictment maintenance," who will be exclusively responsible for maintaining indictments after the comprehensive special counsel concludes its investigation.

Representative Kim Seung-won, the ranking member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for the main opposition party, announced today that he proposed an amendment to the "Act on the Appointment of a Special Counsel for the Investigation of Insurrection, Foreign Aggression, and State Affairs Manipulation by Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Keon-hee" yesterday, July 8, which includes these provisions.

The bill was reportedly prepared with a consensus among the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair, the ranking member, and the DP's floor leadership.

The core of the bill is to allow the special counsel's investigation period to be extended one additional time for 30 days, until August 23.

The comprehensive special counsel, which launched in February, has already extended its period twice under the existing law and is currently scheduled to conclude its investigation by July 24.

In this regard, the comprehensive special counsel team had previously submitted a request for an amendment to the Special Counsel Act to Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo, which included provisions such as a 30-day extension of the investigation period.

Representative Kim's bill also includes a provision to increase the quota for dispatched public officials from the current 130 to 150.

Furthermore, it includes the establishment of a system for prosecutors for indictment maintenance, who will be exclusively responsible for indictment maintenance duties until a final court ruling is reached, even after the special counsel's term ends.

The bill stipulates that these prosecutors must have 5 to 10 years of legal experience and will be appointed by the President from among candidates recommended by the special counsel.

These prosecutors will operate under the direction and supervision of the special counsel.

The bill also stipulates that regarding investigations and indictments, the comprehensive special counsel must consult with the existing special counsel teams on matters that could overturn the decisions of the three major special counsel teams or affect indictment maintenance.

This is interpreted as a measure considering the recent friction between the comprehensive special counsel and the existing special counsel teams over the scope of suspect bookings.

The bill also includes a provision mandating the mutual sharing of materials between special counsel teams.

It stipulates that the three major special counsel teams may request the submission of investigation records and evidence from the comprehensive special counsel if necessary for indictment maintenance, and the comprehensive special counsel must comply with such requests.

It also explicitly states that "the comprehensive special counsel shall not refuse a request for submission solely on the grounds that the case is still under investigation."

This bill proposed by Representative Kim Seung-won is separate from the amendment to the comprehensive special counsel act proposed by DP Representative Kang Deuk-gu, which the Legislation and Judiciary Committee referred to a subcommittee yesterday.

Representative Kang's amendment, proposed in March, focuses on introducing lawyers for indictment maintenance and does not include provisions regarding the extension of the special counsel's term.

Representative Kim's proposal is expected to be reviewed in conjunction with Representative Kang's bill at the subcommittee level.

(Photo: Yonhap News)