PPP criticizes opposition's push for revised special counsel bill targeting first lady

Floor Leader of the ruling People Power Party Choo Kyung-ho, center, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Nov. 12. Yonhap

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday criticized the main opposition party's latest move to submit a scaled-down special investigation bill targeting first lady Kim Keon Hee, calling it an attempt to drive division within the ruling party.

On Monday, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said it will submit a revised proposal for a special counsel probe into two key allegations involving the first lady — alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme and interference in election nominations through a power broker.

The scaling back from its previous unsuccessful bills, which encompassed a much broader range of allegations against Kim, was seen as an attempt to gain support within the ruling party and to increase the chances of the bill's passage through a revote.

PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho slammed the move as "very base political conduct ... meant to foment division within a rival party" during a party meeting, pledging to block its passage.

PPP lawmakers aligned with party leader Han Dong-hoon who have previously intensified calls for a special counsel probe bill against Kim also joined other party lawmakers in objecting to the DPK's push, saying the appointment of a special inspector should come first.

This comes ahead of a crucial court ruling for DPK leader Lee Jae-myung on Friday for his alleged violation of the election law.

The PPP views the DPK's move to revise the bill ahead of Lee's court ruling as a move to create a rift between pro-Han lawmakers and those aligned with Yoon, who have been at odds over the issue.

The DPK plans to put the bill up for a revote on Nov. 28 if Yoon vetoes the bill.

This will be the third version of the bill targeting the first lady following a similar proposal vetoed by Yoon last month, which was ultimately scrapped in a revote. (Yonhap)