Reasons for Divided Opinions Among the Opposition on the 'Daejang-dong-Kim Gun-hee' Joint Special Investigation

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The Democratic Party of Korea has officially announced the promotion of a 'double special prosecution' demanding a thorough investigation into the Daejang-dong scandal and allegations of stock price manipulation involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol. However, differing views on the special prosecution have emerged within the opposition parties. The Basic Income Party expressed support for the introduction of the special prosecution, while the Justice Party and Transition Korea advocated caution.

On the 13th, Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, targeted the allegations of Kim Geon-hee’s involvement in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation, stating, "We must correct the collapsed judicial justice through an investigation without sanctuary," and pledged, "We will definitely push through the 'People's Special Prosecution.'"

The issue lies in the votes for the special prosecution law. The Democratic Party notes that since Kim Do-eup of the People Power Party holds the position of chairman of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is impossible to promote the special prosecution through the relevant standing committee. Therefore, a strategy to bypass the Judiciary Committee is necessary, such as designating the special prosecution law as a fast-track agenda in the plenary session and submitting it to the plenary. However, this requires the approval of 180 members, which is three-fifths of the total members.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and other opposition lawmakers are shouting slogans at the sit-in protest held on the rotunda hall in front of the National Assembly plenary session hall on the 2nd, demanding a special investigation into First Lady Kim Geon-hee and the dismissal of Minister Lee Sang-min. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

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Currently, there are a total of 299 seats. By party, the Democratic Party holds 169 seats, the People Power Party 115 seats, the Justice Party 6 seats, the Basic Income Party 1 seat, Transition Korea 1 seat, and independents 7 seats. For the Democratic Party to secure 180 seats, the consent of other opposition lawmakers is crucial.

However, opinions on the double special prosecution differ even within the opposition. The Justice Party and Cho Jung-hoon, leader of Transition Korea, have already expressed caution and put the brakes on the proposal. The Justice Party’s stance on the current 'Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecution Law' is that a summons investigation of Kim Geon-hee must precede it.

There are also criticisms that the Democratic Party’s push for the special prosecution has political motives, such as being a 'shield for Lee Jae-myung.' Kim Chang-in, leader of the Youth Justice Party, pointed out at the executive committee meeting on the 13th that "the related allegations were clarified during the 2019 confirmation hearing of Yoon Seok-yeol as Prosecutor General," adding, "When it’s their own side, it’s a shield, but when it’s the other side, they investigate everything up to before marriage."

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion of breach of trust related to preferential treatment allegations in the Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town development projects, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 10th as a suspect. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

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Cho Jung-hoon, leader of Transition Korea, appeared on YTN Radio’s 'News King Park Ji-hoon' on the same day and criticized, "There is a political intention to reduce news about Lee Jae-myung’s summons by the prosecution," and said, "A special prosecution for the spouse of the sitting president will become a black hole that sucks in livelihood issues, so it must be approached very cautiously."

On the other hand, Yong Hye-in, co-representative of the Basic Income Party, supported the push for the double special prosecution, stating, "Sufficient evidence and circumstances have emerged regarding Kim Geon-hee’s involvement in the stock price manipulation."

At the National Assembly Communication Office that day, Representative Yong said, "Clear evidence and circumstances have been sufficiently presented that Kim Geon-hee acted together with other defendants who have already been convicted in the Deutsche Motors stock price manipulation case," and added, "To dispel the prosecution’s unfair controversies regarding the Daejang-dong scandal and Kim Geon-hee’s stock manipulation case, and to protect democracy distorted by the prosecution’s unfairness, it is urgent to investigate and prosecute these cases through a special prosecutor."

Meanwhile, even if the special prosecution law is passed through the fast-track process by gathering 180 seats, the introduction of the special prosecution could be blocked by the president’s veto power. The People Power Party has stated its intention to recommend President Yoon exercise the veto power.

On the same day, Chung Jin-seok, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, raised his voice at the on-site emergency committee meeting held at the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC), calling the Kim Geon-hee special prosecution a 'shield for Lee Jae-myung.'

He said, "It seems that the Democratic Party is now aiming for great chaos in the Republic of Korea. Their strategy appears to be to plunge our entire society into great chaos and find a way for Lee Jae-myung to survive within that chaos," adding, "To resist the Democratic Party’s violation of the separation of powers and legislative dictatorship, we have no choice but to request the president to exercise the veto power."

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