Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Opposition parties pressure PPP with special probe bills
Cho Kuk, head of the Korea Innovation Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
Cho Kuk's party vows to introduce investigation bill targeting PPP leader
Two opposition parties are intensifying their offensives ahead of the April 10 general elections, threatening to launch separate special counsel probe bills targeting the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the Yoon Suk Yeol administration.
Cho Kuk, leader of the Korea Innovation Party, confronted the PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon, Tuesday, pledging to introduce a special probe bill against Han as the No. 1 aim of his party in the upcoming National Assembly.
"In our first action in the 22nd Assembly, the Korea Innovation Party will propose a Han Dong-hoon special counsel probe bill in order to put an early end to prosecutorial tyranny and achieve justice," Cho said during a press conference at the Assembly in Seoul.
He stressed that the action is a response to the public's demand for a fair investigation into Han. Cho stated that the PPP leader, due to his prosecutorial background, has so far evaded scrutiny into his numerous crime allegations.
Cho said that the special probe bill will specifically target allegations related to Han's daughter, such as plagiarized academic papers and inflated credentials. Last year, Han faced speculation regarding his daughter's academic misconduct and the exaggeration of awards that she has received, which were used to gain admission into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The bill will also look into allegations that Han conspired with a right-wing reporter to force the businessman into providing false information about a liberal political commentator in 2020, during Han's tenure as a senior prosecutor.
"The law must be fair to everyone, with no exception. In particular, being a prosecutor-turned-president or the leader of the ruling party with a prosecutorial background should not grant any special privileges," Cho said, in an apparent message targeting both President Yoon and Han.
Cho's announcement comes as his party has been enjoying popularity among liberal voters who resonate with its commitment to "challenge the Yoon administration's 'prosecutor dictatorship.'" Recent polls indicate that the party has the highest approval rating among satellite parties, heightening expectations that his party may secure up to 10 proportional representation seats.
Members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), including Rep. Park Ju-min, the party's deputy floor leader, heads to file a special probe bill against Lee Jong-sup, newly appointed ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Australia, at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) submitted a special probe bill against Lee Jong-sup, the newly appointed ambassador to Australia, also on Tuesday, aimed at revealing the entire process of Lee's recent appointment and his suspicious departure overseas.
"The investigation will primarily focus on the presidential office, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which are believed to have been deeply involved in the former defense minister's suspicious overseas departure to avoid legal scrutiny," said Rep. Park Joo-min, the party's deputy floor leader.
The opposition lawmakers believe that the presidential office has exerted influence in the appointment of Lee, a former defense minister, to the envoy role, in order to help him avoid ongoing investigations by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) regarding the death of a young Marine.
"Our goal is to pass this bill, and since there is a period when the National Assembly continues to operate even after the general elections, we will make our utmost effort (to pass the bill) during that time," Park said.
On the same day, DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said that the party was reviewing the impeachment of Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Justice Minister Park Sung-jae.
"We have decided to proceed with filing a complaint and subsequently conduct a legal review on the possibility of impeachment," Hong said. "We will not let go of this issue without proper scrutiny. These are not empty words."