People Power Party Submits 1.5x Larger 'Mammoth Special Prosecutor' Bill on Choi Soon-sil... "Let's Resolve Public Suspicion"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The People Power Party has introduced a mammoth-level special prosecutor bill, 1.5 times larger than the 'Choi Soon-sil Special Prosecutor,' stating that they cannot trust the investigation led by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae regarding the Lime and Optimus scandals. They demanded the ruling party to negotiate, saying there is "no justification to refuse the special prosecutor."

On the morning of the 22nd, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, along with Kim Seong-won, deputy floor leader, and Bae Hyun-jin, floor spokesperson, submitted the "Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Investigation of Financial Fraud Damage from Lime and Optimus Funds and Allegations of Power-related Corruption Gate" to the National Assembly's main building legislative affairs office. The bill was introduced with Joo as the representative, effectively making it the party's official stance.

This bill stipulates matters concerning the appointment and duties of a special prosecutor to investigate the Lime and Optimus scandal allegations. Among four special prosecutor candidates recommended by the Korean Bar Association, the negotiation groups agree on two candidates and recommend them in writing to the president, who then appoints one of them.

The special prosecutor team will be a mammoth-sized group of nearly 100 members, consisting of 30 dispatched prosecutors and 60 dispatched public officials excluding prosecutors. This is 1.5 times the size of the Choi Soon-sil special prosecutor team, which had 20 prosecutors and 40 public officials dispatched. Additionally, the president appoints four deputy special prosecutors recommended by the special prosecutor, and the special prosecutor appoints up to 60 special investigators.

The special prosecutor must prepare for duty for 20 days from the date of appointment, complete the investigation within 70 days, and decide whether to prosecute. The investigation period can be extended once by 30 days with presidential approval. The investigation targets include not only financial fraud related to Lime and Optimus but also lobbying allegations involving political and government figures derived from the case.

The People Power Party stated, "This case is a massive crime that has produced numerous victims of financial fraud, yet the government and ruling party are concealing and downplaying the case rather than revealing its substance, selectively accepting only testimonies favorable to themselves." They explained the proposal's purpose as "appointing an independent special prosecutor to resolve public suspicions through strict investigations, whether by the ruling or opposition parties or the prosecution."

At the emergency committee meeting that day, Floor Leader Joo emphasized, "Minister Choo's reckless exclusion of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and shifting of responsibility can only be seen as an attempt to control the investigation, reach a conclusion, and cover up problems if they arise." He added, "If the Democratic Party refuses the special prosecutor, the public will immediately suspect this is indeed a power corruption gate."

He said, "The Democratic Party said they hope for a 'swift and strict investigation,' so there is no reason to refuse the special prosecutor." He added, "This afternoon, I plan to meet with Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding this issue, and I expect the Democratic Party will not reject the special prosecutor bill."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.