Ruling party to be excluded from recommending special prosecutor in corruption probe into president's family

The National Assembly passes a bill on ratifying a new defense cost-sharing deal between Korea and the United States during a plenary session, Thursday. Yonhap

The opposition-led National Assembly on Thursday passed a revision to parliamentary rules that removes the ruling party from the process to nominate a special prosecutor to investigate corruption involving the president or his family.

The revised bill, which passed in a 179-102 vote during a plenary session, excludes the ruling party, currently the People's Power Party (PPP), from recommending two of the seven members of a recommendation committee for a permanent special prosecutor for investigations involving the president or his family.

Under the new rules, minor opposition parties, such as the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Jinbo party, will instead have the right to recommend one member each.

The revision comes after the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) earlier said it will address first lady Kim Keon Hee's controversies following President Yoon Suk Yeol's veto of a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into allegations against Kim.

Kim has been accused of involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, illegally accepting a luxury bag and interfering with the PPP's candidate nominations ahead of last April's general elections, among other things.

During the meeting, the DPK also unilaterally passed a revised bill requiring the government to take measures in case rice prices fall or rise sharply, including buying surplus rice or the releasing of government stocks.

The PPP blasted the DP for pushing ahead with the revision of the rule and the bill's passage, calling it an uncontrolled legislative abuse.

PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said the party will ask Yoon to exercise his right to request parliamentary reconsideration of bills, a measure seen as an effective presidential veto on legislation.

As for the revision of the rules regarding special counsel nomination, the PPP will file for an authority dispute and a constitutional appeal in objection to the amendment, Choo said.

The Assembly also voted to ratify a new defense cost-sharing deal between Korea and the United States.

Last month, Seoul and Washington inked the five-year deal on determining Seoul's share of its cost for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea, just days before the U.S. held its presidential election on Nov. 5.

Under the 12th Special Measures Agreement, which will last until 2030, Korea will pay 1.52 trillion won ($1.19 billion) in 2026, up 8.3 percent from 1.4 trillion won in 2025.

The deal came amid speculation that Korea was seeking to strike an early deal to apparently avoid tough negotiations if former President Donald Trump returns to office. Trump had demanded a hefty rise in Seoul's share to as much as $50 billion during his term, calling the ally a free rider on U.S. military power. (Yonhap)