An amendment to the law, which allows for a one-time extension of the investigation period for the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel, passed the National Assembly plenary session today (the 21st), led by the opposition bloc.
The People Power Party opposed the amendment and initiated a filibuster starting yesterday afternoon.
However, after 24 hours had passed, the filibuster was forcibly ended as 183 members, exceeding the required three-fifths of the registered members, voted to conclude it.
Immediately following, the amendment to the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel Act was put to a vote, and it passed the plenary session with 173 votes in favor out of 173 present.
Members of the People Power Party and the Reform Party did not participate in the vote.
The Rebuilding Korea Party had hinted at the possibility of not participating in the conclusion of the filibuster, citing the Democratic Party's passive stance on the swift processing of the Criminal Procedure Act, which centers on the abolition of the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights. However, after discussions with the Democratic Party this afternoon, they decided to participate in the vote.
Once the amendment passed by the National Assembly today is approved by the State Council, the investigation period for the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel will be extended by 30 days, from the 24th of this month to August 23.
(Photo: Yonhap News)