Opposition's 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor' Gamble... Ruling Party Faces 'Veto Dilemma'

Democratic Party Plans to Push 'Double Special Prosecutor Law' as Early as the 23rd
Yoon Faces Heavy Burden in Exercising Veto on Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor

The Democratic Party of Korea is tightening its offensive against the ruling party by announcing the forced passage of the 'double special prosecutor law' including the special prosecutor law on the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, in which First Lady Kim Keon-hee is suspected to be involved, following the impeachment motion against Broadcasting and Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-kwan and prosecutors. If President Yoon Suk-yeol exercises his veto power not only on the impeachment motion but also on the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor law, the ruling party's burden ahead of next year's general election could increase further. As the ruling and opposition parties continue their sharp confrontation over the review of next year's budget bill, there is also a possibility that the Democratic Party will push the special prosecutor card by holding the budget hostage, making the year-end 'budget political situation' likely to freeze coldly.

According to political circles on the 16th, the Democratic Party plans to pass the 'double special prosecutor law' as early as the end of this month. The double special prosecutor law targets investigations into the illegal lobbying allegations in the Daejang-dong development project, known as the '50 billion club,' and the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case involving suspicions of First Lady Kim Keon-hee's involvement.

'Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecutor Law' to be forcibly passed as early as the end of this month

Democratic Party lawmakers Shin Jeong-hoon and Yang Kyung-sook submitted the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act to the National Assembly Secretariat in Yeouido, Seoul, last March. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Both special prosecutor laws were designated as fast-track bills by the opposition parties in April this year, and the Democratic Party considers them to have been submitted to the plenary session on the 24th of last month after a reflection period. Political circles anticipate that the double special prosecutor law could be passed at the National Assembly plenary session as early as the 23rd. The next plenary session is on the 30th.

According to the National Assembly Act, the two special prosecutor laws must be submitted before December 22, the 60th day from the date they were submitted to the plenary session. If submission fails at that time, they will be automatically submitted at the first plenary session held thereafter. However, on the 13th, Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo said on YTN radio, "I think there is no need to wait until (December 22)," adding, "We will handle it within the regular session." This is a strategic move to advance the 'deadline' for passing the special prosecutor law with five months left before the general election. It is also interpreted as a pressure signal toward National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, who has the authority to submit bills to the plenary session.

Among the two special prosecutor laws, the one that both ruling and opposition parties are paying close attention to is the 'Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor.' Initially, the suspicion that First Lady Kim was involved in the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation from 2009 to 2012 was closed without finding any charges during the prosecution investigation under the Moon Jae-in administration. The investigation was led by Lee Jung-soo, then head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, who was considered a 'pro-Moon prosecutor,' which is one reason why it is expected that even with a special prosecutor, the investigation results would not differ significantly. However, a variable is that in February this year, former Deutsche Motors Chairman Kwon Oh-soo and others related to the case were found guilty in the first trial.

The ruling party appears to be deeply concerned. If they accept the special prosecutor, the presidential office would have to bear the burden of the 'unprecedented investigation of a first lady in constitutional history.' President Yoon exercising his re-request right (veto) on the Kim Keon-hee special prosecutor law could be seen as 'unilateral state governance' and contradicts President Yoon's principle that 'there is no sanctuary in investigations,' making it a difficult card to play. Moreover, the inevitable negative impact on public opinion ahead of next year's general election is also a burden.

Ruling party's 'budget leash' tightened... "A huge bomb ahead of the general election"

President Yoon Suk-yeol enters the National Assembly plenary session hall on the 31st to deliver the policy speech on the 2024 budget bill and fund operation plan, shaking hands with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

There are also views that the double special prosecutor law could shake the budget political situation. National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo has set 'ruling and opposition agreement' as a condition for convening the plenary session, so the ruling party can continue to refuse and delay the double special prosecutor law. However, the legal deadline for passing next year's budget bill is only half a month away on December 2, and if the budget is not passed on time in the plenary session as last year, it will inevitably disrupt the execution of next year's national finances. If the convening of the plenary session is refused, the burden of the delay in budget approval is likely to shift to the ruling party.

A Democratic Party official said, "Since the conditions for a plenary session vote are met, there is no reason not to pass it," adding, "If the president exercises his veto, it means giving up the ruling party's support rate in the general election." Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok also evaluated on KBS's Jeong Gwan-yong's Current Affairs Headquarters on the 11th, "If President Yoon exercises his veto on the Kim special prosecutor law, the greatest assets of the 'star prosecutor,' fairness and common sense, could be at risk," and "I see it as a huge bomb ahead of the general election."

For this reason, voices are emerging inside and outside the People Power Party calling to 'choose a direct breakthrough by accepting the special prosecutor.' A ruling party floor leadership official said, "There were some within the party who said, 'Rather accept the special prosecutor and conclude it cleanly, then use it as a reversal card to highlight Representative Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks,'" but added, "How to set the special prosecutor period is also a variable, and if a wrong (guilty) conclusion comes out just before the general election, it would be irreversible, so the possibility of realization is small. If it goes like this, it means falling into the Democratic Party's election manipulation."

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