From the 'Itaewon Special Act' to the 'Double Special Prosecutor'... Ongoing Conflict Between Ruling and Opposition Parties

Automatic Referral of 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act' to the Plenary Session on the 28th
Also Controversial: 'Itaewon Special Act' Failed to Be Submitted the Previous Day

In a power struggle between the ruling and opposition parties, next year's budget bill amounting to 656.6 trillion won barely passed, exceeding the legal deadline (December 2) by 19 days. However, the remaining year-end schedule does not seem smooth either. On the 28th, at the plenary session, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to sharply clash over the handling of the 'Itaewon Special Act' and the 'Double Special Prosecutor Act (Special Prosecutor for Kim Keon-hee's stock manipulation allegations and the Daejang-dong 5 Billion Club Special Prosecutor)'.

Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 22nd, Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, appeared on MBC Radio and said, "(The Special Prosecutor Act for Kim Keon-hee's stock manipulation allegations) will be automatically submitted according to the National Assembly Act," adding that if it is submitted to the plenary session on the 28th, it will be immediately processed.

The so-called 'Double Special Prosecutor Act,' including the Special Prosecutor Act for Kim Keon-hee and the Daejang-dong 5 Billion Club Special Prosecutor Act, was designated as a fast-track bill led by the Democratic Party in April and was submitted to the plenary session on October 24. If it is not submitted to the plenary session by today (the 22nd), which is 60 days after submission, it will be automatically submitted to the next plenary session. Therefore, the Democratic Party intends to process it even unilaterally at the plenary session on the 28th.

At the highest committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the same day, Floor Leader Hong raised his voice toward Han Dong-hoon, the nominated emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, saying, "Please boldly speak to President Yoon Seok-yeol," and added, "Say that we should accept the 'Double Special Prosecutor' and that it would be good to clear out various corruption allegations surrounding the presidential office this time to make it a dignified presidential office."

On the other hand, the People Power Party stated that they would respond thoroughly, calling the Democratic Party-led Double Special Prosecutor Act "political and malicious."

Yoon Jae-ok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party and Acting Party Leader, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Yoon Jae-ok, acting party leader and floor leader, emphasized at the party meeting the day before, "The Democratic Party is recklessly pushing laws unilaterally like a clearance sale as the 21st National Assembly comes to an end," and added, "Because the content of the bills and the legislative process violate the basic spirit of democracy, we will respond thoroughly."

The standoff is expected to continue over the 'Itaewon Disaster Special Act' as well. The Democratic Party submitted a motion to change the agenda to table the Itaewon Disaster Special Act after passing next year's budget at the plenary session the day before. However, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo rejected it, emphasizing bipartisan agreement. Speaker Kim proposed a mediation plan that includes deleting the special prosecutor demand clause on the premise of forming an investigative committee and postponing the law's enforcement to after the April general election next year to prevent political disputes. The Democratic Party stated that "there has been no change in position regarding the Itaewon Special Act so far," so it seems it will take time for the ruling and opposition parties to find a consensus.

Acting leader Yoon said at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning regarding the Democratic Party's attempt to process the Itaewon Disaster Special Act the day before, "It is regrettable that they do not take even a day off from legislative recklessness." He also pointed out, "Stop the disaster politicization that causes public division and exploits the pain of the bereaved families."

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