Opposition unilaterally passes bill targeting first lady despite PPP boycott
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally passes a bill calling for a special counsel into first lady Kim Keon Hee's allegations, including stock manipulation, during a plenary session of the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, Sept. 19. Yonhap
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally passed three contentious bills Thursday, including one calling for a special investigation into allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, despite fierce opposition from the ruling party.
Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) refused to attend Thursday's parliamentary plenary session in boycott of the vote and held a rally in front of the main hall condemning the opposition's move.
PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said the PPP will request President Yoon Suk Yeol exercise his veto power against the bills, as the long-running cycle has repeated over and over again of the opposition-controlled National Assembly unilaterally passing contentious legislation and Yoon rejecting it.
The special counsel bill, which passed in a 167-0 vote, calls for an independent probe into Kim's stock manipulation allegations, as well as her receipt of a luxury bag and her alleged interference with the ruling party's candidate nominations ahead of the April 10 general elections.
A similar special probe bill targeting the first lady passed through the Assembly but was vetoed by Yoon in January and was later scrapped in a revote.
The opposition-controlled Assembly also passed a bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegations that the presidential office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the military's investigation into the death of a Marine killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.
It marks the opposition's fourth time passing a special probe bill on the Marine's death.
The latest bill mandates that the Supreme Court chief justice recommend four candidates to the special counsel. They will be narrowed down by the opposition parties to two, from which the president will make the final appointment.
It is similar to the "third party" bill proposed by PPP leader Han Dong-hoon but gives opposition parties more authority to choose among the recommended special prosecutors.
The third bill that calls for promoting the use of local currency vouchers to boost the economy passed in a 166-3 vote, with three members of the minor New Reform Party voting against the bill. (Yonhap)