Tensions rise as opposition demands special probe into first lady

Ruling People Power Party Chairman Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, front row center, and other party members stage a protest against National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo at the National Assembly, Friday, accusing him of political bias. Yonhap

Tension between the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is deepening as the latter is pushing for special counsel probes into issues unfavorable to the ruling party and the government, including a stock manipulation case allegedly involving first lady Kim Keon Hee.

The DPK is also pushing for a parliamentary investigation into the death of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geun who died in July after being swept away by a torrent during search and rescue operations for victims of heavy monsoon rains.

That issue provoked public criticism as troops mobilized for the operations without wearing life vests. In addition, civic groups filed a complaint in October against President Yoon Suk Yeol and four former and current senior security officials over allegations of attempting to influence an investigation into the death of the young Marine.

Amid mounting tensions between the rival parties, the process of approving the 657 trillion won ($504 billion) state budget has slowed, resulting in the failure of the National Assembly to meet the deadline set for Saturday.

The deadline for the budget is set for Dec. 2 every year, and the Assembly also failed to meet the deadline for the two previous state budgets.

The DPK with 168 lawmakers at the 300-strong Assembly is moving to unilaterally pass motions to designate two special investigation proposals during a plenary session slated for Friday. One of the proposals deals with allegations that first lady Kim was involved in manipulating stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. Kim has denied the allegations.

"Recent public opinion polls showed high support for the special counsel probe into the first lady's alleged involvement in stock manipulation, even from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province," Rep. Seo Young-kyo of the DPK said during a radio appearance on Saturday.

The regions mentioned by the opposition lawmaker are considered home turf for conservatives.

The ruling party denounced the opposition party's move as a "politically motivated act of violence."

These issues are adding to already existing conflicts caused by the DPK's attempt to impeach a controversial broadcasting watchdog chief that forced him to resign, and the president's veto of a DPK-pushed labor bill.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea enter a briefing room at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday, to make statements on Korea Communications Commission Chairman Lee Dong-kwan's resignation. Yonhap

The presidential office said, Friday, Yoon approved the resignation of Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Lee Dong-kwan, hours before his impeachment vote at the Assembly was set to take place. Lee reportedly expressed his intention to step down on Thursday.

The DPK has been accusing Lee of unfair personnel decisions and appointments aimed at increasing government influence over broadcasters, and planned to pass an impeachment motion during a plenary meeting on Friday by using its majority seats.

The rival parties have been butting heads over the isue regarding the broadcasting watchdog chief in order to gain an advantage before the general elections in April next year, given the huge influence that broadcasters have over voters.

The DPK has been claiming that Lee seeks to dictate broadcasting with his right-leaning views, but the ruling party has been arguing that the KCC chairman is tasked with normalizing broadcasting, and the impeachment attempt is the main opposition party's attempt to use left-leaning TV programs for the general elections.

The DPK said Lee's resignation is "a mean trick" to avoid impeachment.

"Accepting the KCC chairman's resignation is a blatant impediment to the Assembly's constitutional process," DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said during a Supreme Council meeting, Friday.

PPP floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok said at a party meeting, also on Friday, "a majority decision that does not adhere to the rule of law is nothing but an act of violence," and "the DPK's disregard for the rule of law cannot prevail over the country's rule of law."

While tussling over the broadcasting watchdog chief, Yoon approved the Cabinet's motion asking the president to use his right to request the Assembly to reconsider a controversial pro-labor bill, better known as the "yellow envelope bill."

During a Cabinet meeting, Friday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said the bill grants "special privileges only to labor unions by exempting them from the principle of compensation for damages," and it will "encourage illegal strikes" by making it difficult for businesses to hold unions accountable for losses incurred due to unlawful strikes.

When the president requests the Assembly to reconsider a bill, it requires the attendance of more than half of all registered lawmakers and approval by two-thirds of attending legislators for the act to be passed again, thereby making it more difficult to get the green light. Due to this, demanding a reconsideration is widely considered as a de facto veto by the president.

It is the third case of Yoon vetoing a bill that was passed by the Assembly. In April, he vetoed a revision of the Grain Management Act and then rejected the Assembly's approval of the Nursing Act in May.

The DPK stepped up its accusation of Yoon irresponsibly handling state affairs.

"There is a high level of national consensus and a pressing need for the bill," DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung said. "Exercising the veto power for strategic reasons is not the kind of responsible stance expected from the government that is entrusted with managing state affairs."

Along with the yellow envelope bill, Yoon also vetoed three revisions of broadcasting laws aimed at expanding the board members of public broadcasting stations and changing their governing structures.

The DPK, which unilaterally passed the revisions, believes they will help improve the independence of broadcasters, while the government believes they will make broadcast networks more vulnerable to political influence.