What does the special counsel bill on alleged fabricated indictments authorize investigators to examine?

It calls for an independent counsel to investigate suspicions that prosecutors under former President Yoon Suk Yeol fabricated evidence or induced false testimony to build cases against then opposition leader Lee Jae Myung and others. The final version removed clauses that would have allowed the counsel to cancel indictments.

Why is the People Power Party urging Lee Jae Myung to veto the special counsel bill?

The PPP says the measure is intended to cancel Lee’s indictments and free him from prison. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea disputes that accusation, pointing out that the final version removed provisions allowing the special counsel to cancel indictments.

What protests and rallies has the PPP planned against the special counsel bill?

After holding a rally near Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on Saturday, the party said it would stage outdoor rallies in major cities, starting in Busan this Saturday. It also began one-person protests outside Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, which it says will continue until Lee vetoes the bill.

PPP urges Lee to veto special counsel bill on alleged fabricated indictments

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Summary

The People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday urged President Lee Jae Myung to veto a special counsel bill passed last week, arguing it is intended to cancel indictments against him. The bill calls for an independent counsel to investigate allegations that prosecutors under former President Yoon Suk Yeol fabricated evidence or induced false testimony in cases against Lee and others. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea rejected the PPP’s accusation, noting that the final bill removed clauses allowing the counsel to cancel indictments. The PPP has held protests and plans further rallies around the country.

Key Facts

PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok called the bill a measure to free Lee from prison, while floor leader Jeong Jeom-sig warned it could lead to an early end of Lee’s administration.
Lee’s trials have been suspended since he took office in June last year under a constitutional provision exempting a sitting president from criminal prosecution except in cases of insurrection or treason.
The charges Lee faces stem from his time as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province and involve alleged corrupt development schemes, illegal remittances to North Korea and misuse of a government charge card.
The PPP held a rally near Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on Saturday and plans to begin a series of rallies in major cities with one in Busan this Saturday.
The PPP began one-person protests outside Cheong Wa Dae on Monday and says they will continue until Lee vetoes the bill.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 10, 2026 11:33 am KST

Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), front, leads a general meeting of its lawmakers outside Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday, urging President Lee Jae Myung to veto a recently passed bill calling for a special counsel investigation into alleged fabricated indictments targeting the president and others. Yonhap

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday called on President Lee Jae Myung to veto a recently passed bill on a special counsel investigation into alleged fabricated indictments targeting Lee and others.

The PPP made the appeal as they held a general meeting of its lawmakers outside the presidential office, slamming the bill as a measure aimed at canceling all indictments against Lee.

"The special counsel bill marks the final step in a project to free Lee Jae Myung from prison," PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said. "It is a jailbreak bill designed to get Lee, who should be behind bars, out of jail."

The legislation calls for appointing an independent counsel to investigate suspicions the prosecution under former President Yoon Suk Yeol fabricated evidence or induced false testimonies to build cases against then opposition leader Lee and others.

"We must resume all trials and make Lee face the judiciary's judgment before his crimes are wiped away," Jang added.

Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig, the party's floor leader, also warned, "The project to free Lee from prison will only lead to an early end of his administration."

Lee's trials have been suspended since he took office in June last year under an article of the Constitution that exempts a sitting president from criminal prosecution except in cases of insurrection or treason.

The president faces charges of involvement in corrupt development schemes, illegal remittances to North Korea and the misuse of a government charge card, stemming from his time as mayor of Seongnam and governor of Gyeonggi Province.

The PPP has been protesting against the bill after it was passed at a plenary session last week, with a rally held Friday outside the National Assembly and a large-scale outdoor rally staged near Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul on Saturday.

The party plans to hold a series of outdoor rallies in major cities across the country, starting with the southeastern city of Busan on Saturday.

A relay of one-person protests outside Cheong Wa Dae also began Monday and will continue until Lee vetoes the bill, according to the PPP.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has rejected the PPP's accusation, noting that clauses allowing the special counsel to cancel indictments were removed from the final version of the bill.

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