Government Approves Recommendation to Re-request Special Prosecutor Law on 'Kim Geon-hee and 5 Billion Club'... "Unconstitutional"

Resolution to Recommend Veto of 'Ssangteukgeom Act' at State Council Meeting
"A Distorted Structure That Inevitably Leads to Appointment of Politically Biased Special Prosecutors"

On the 5th, the government held an extraordinary Cabinet meeting and passed a resolution recommending that President Yoon Seok-yeol exercise his right to request reconsideration (veto) regarding the so-called 'Double Special Prosecutor Act.'

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is delivering an opening remark at the extraordinary Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 5th. At the meeting, the veto power (request for reconsideration) on the double special investigation bill (First Lady Kim Keon-hee and Daejang-dong) was resolved. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

At the extraordinary Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at the Government Seoul Office that day, the government announced that it reviewed and passed a resolution to request reconsideration of the 'Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Investigation of Alleged Stock Price Manipulation by President’s Spouse Kim Gun-hee in Deutsche Motors' (Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Act) and the 'Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the Investigation of the Hwacheon Daeyu "50 Billion Club" Bribery Allegation Case' (50 Billion Club Special Prosecutor Act), which were transferred from the National Assembly the previous day.

Regarding the reason for requesting reconsideration of the Kim Gun-hee Special Prosecutor Act, the government stated, "The special prosecutor system is intended to ensure legal fairness and judicial justice in cases of power-related corruption and politically charged incidents." It added, "This is not a case with concrete criminal clues but rather a case politically motivated by a specific party’s accusation. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Division, with dozens of prosecutors, conducted intensive investigations for over two years, including raids on more than 50 locations and questioning related parties, resulting in the indictment of 16 individuals and the detention of six suspects. However, no indictment or even summons was made against Mrs. Kim, so it cannot be considered a power-related corruption case."

Furthermore, the government pointed out, "This bill, which the major opposition party unilaterally pushed through via the fast-track process, is a politically motivated legislation aimed at influencing the general election." It criticized, "The Democratic Party, which filed the accusation, also recommends the special prosecutor, creating a typical conflict of interest."

The government also raised concerns that the special prosecutor law requires bipartisan agreement but excludes the ruling party’s right to recommend, resulting in a distorted structure where a politically biased special prosecutor is inevitably appointed.

Regarding the 50 Billion Club Special Prosecutor Act, the government criticized, "Having a special prosecutor recommended only by the opposition investigate Kim Man-bae, a private developer of Daejang-dong and a suspect of bribery, is aimed at shielding Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, who is already under prosecution and trial."

Additionally, the government emphasized that the prosecution is currently investigating the 50 Billion Club case and trials are underway in court, explaining that the introduction of a special prosecutor could interfere with ongoing investigations and trials.

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