'Kim Geon-hee Yeo-sa Special Investigation Act' Re-vote Fails... 2 Votes Short of Approval

The bill to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations of stock manipulation involving First Lady Kim Geon-hee was rejected on the 7th.

On the same day, the ruling and opposition parties held a plenary session at the National Assembly and re-voted on the 'Special Prosecutor Act for First Lady Kim.' The result was 198 votes in favor and 102 against, leading to its rejection.

On the 7th, the special investigation bill concerning First Lady Kim Keon-hee, a reconsideration agenda, is being rejected in the National Assembly plenary session. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

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According to the president's request for reconsideration (veto), when a bill is re-voted, it passes if more than half of the total members are present and at least two-thirds of the members present vote in favor. On this day, there were a total of 300 members, and the Special Prosecutor Act for First Lady Kim fell short by 2 votes to pass.

The Democratic Party, when proposing the third Special Prosecutor Act for First Lady Kim, narrowed the investigation targets to two: the allegations of First Lady Kim's involvement in the stock manipulation of Deutsch Motors and the suspicions related to Mr. Myeong Tae-gyun. They also changed the method of recommending the special prosecutor candidate to a 'third-party recommendation' system, giving the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court the right to recommend. However, the People Power Party held a party meeting that day and confirmed the rejection of the Special Prosecutor Act for First Lady Kim as the party's official stance.

Meanwhile, Park Sung-jae, Minister of Justice, who came to the National Assembly to explain the agenda on behalf of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, left his seat during the handling of the agenda and was reprimanded by Speaker Woo Won-shik. Speaker Woo requested once for him to 'return,' but it appeared that Minister Park had already left the National Assembly.

Speaker Woo stated after the vote count, "It is a principle that a cabinet member should remain in place while the National Assembly handles the agenda, as a matter of attitude toward the people." He added, "Cabinet members must fulfill their responsibilities, and leaving midway like this is disrespecting the National Assembly, which is the representative institution of the people, and disrespecting the people themselves." He continued, "A few days ago, I was truly outraged by the National Assembly being trampled by military boots, and cabinet members should not behave like this," warning, "The National Assembly will take appropriate measures regarding today's failure to fulfill responsibilities."

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