Democratic Party leader Chung Cheong-rae is entering a closed-door party meeting held before the plenary session at the National Assembly on September 11, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News.

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The floor leaders of the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party reached an agreement on the amendment to the three special prosecutor laws (covering insurrection, Kim Keonhee, and the death in the Marine Corps). However, the agreement was completely scrapped in less than a day due to Democratic Party leader Chung Cheongrae's rejection. As a result, not only is the passage of the amendment to the three special prosecutor laws, which had been expected to pass at the plenary session on the afternoon of September 11, now in doubt, but discussions based on that agreement, such as cooperation on the establishment of the Financial Supervisory Commission, are also expected to face significant difficulties.

Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Our party made concessions and reached an agreement on the special prosecutor law amendment, but for reasons unknown, we were informed by the Democratic Party this morning that the agreement had been broken. President Lee Jaemyung spoke of cooperation, but as a gift for his 100th day in office, he has given the breaking of a bipartisan agreement. From now on, the ruling Democratic Party must take responsibility for any parliamentary disruption."

Representative Donghyuk Jang and Floor Leader Eunsuk Song of the People Power Party, along with other party members, are shouting slogans condemning the Democratic Party of Korea's breaking of the agreement on the amendment to the three special prosecutor laws at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on September 11, 2025. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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The Democratic Party declared the final breakdown of negotiations and announced its intention to proceed with the original bill. Moon Geumjoo, Democratic Party spokesperson for parliamentary affairs, stated, "We will proceed as originally drafted," confirming the plan to put the three special prosecutor laws to a plenary vote. He added that the party had expressed willingness to negotiate again, but the People Power Party did not accept.

Leader Chung told reporters at the National Assembly, "I could not accept the negotiated proposal from the previous day, and since it differed from the leadership's position, I immediately ordered renegotiation. The core of the special prosecutor law amendment is the extension of the investigation period, and negotiating without such an extension directly contradicts the original intent." Kim Byungki, Democratic Party floor leader, also said, "The previous day was just the first round of discussions. We need to report to the Supreme Council and, more importantly, get approval from the party caucus."

Kim Byungki, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is talking with Moon Jinseok, deputy floor leader for parliamentary affairs, at the policy coordination meeting held at the National Assembly on September 11, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

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Previously, Floor Leader Kim and Floor Leader Song had reached an agreement to amend the three special prosecutor laws after two meetings the previous day. The Democratic Party agreed not to extend the special prosecutor's investigation period and to increase only the minimum necessary personnel, while the People Power Party agreed not to filibuster the special prosecutor law. The People Power Party also agreed to actively cooperate on the establishment of the Financial Supervisory Commission as part of the government reorganization.

The Democratic Party leadership's reversal is interpreted as reflecting the opinions of hardline lawmakers within the party. Choo Mi-ae, chair of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee and Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote on social media, "Amending the special prosecutor law should focus on strengthening investigative personnel and extending the investigation period to ensure proper investigations into insurrection and high-level corruption."

Kim Byung-ki, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Song Eon-seok, the floor leader of the People Power Party, are meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on September 10, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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The People Power Party has announced that if the Democratic Party pushes the special prosecutor law amendment through unilaterally, it will respond strongly, including the use of filibuster. Yoo Sangbeom, deputy floor leader for parliamentary affairs, protested, saying, "Is Chung Cheongrae the only member of the Democratic Party? I have doubts about whether floor leaders can reach agreements in the future."

Meanwhile, at the plenary session scheduled for the afternoon, a vote will be held on the motion to arrest People Power Party lawmaker Kwon Seongdong, who is accused of receiving illegal political funds from the Unification Church. Before the plenary session, the People Power Party will hold a party meeting to hear Kwon's personal statement and decide on a response, such as whether to allow a free vote or to boycott the vote. Since Kwon has waived his parliamentary immunity and the Democratic Party holds a majority, the arrest motion is expected to pass smoothly.