Yoon, PPP cornered as opposition threatens special counsel to investigate first lady

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee attend a banquet with Korean nationals in the Netherlands at a hotel in Amsterdam, Monday (local time). Joint Press Corps

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is threatening President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) with its push to launch special counsels. One of which would look into first lady Kim Keon Hee over stock manipulation allegations and another to investigate six people accused of receiving at least 5 billion won in bribes in relation to a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, linked to the DPK chief.

Regarding the moves as the DPK’s saber-rattling ahead of next year’s general elections, the PPP is urging Yoon to use his veto power. At the same time, however, concerns over a backlash are rising as the president has already vetoed several bills, and a recent survey showed that the public wants the investigations.

During a DPK Supreme Council meeting, Monday, council member Rep. Park Chan-dae said, “If he vetoes bills on special counsel probes, President Yoon, who stressed fairness and common sense, will face criticism that he deceived the people.”

Rep. Jung Chung-rae, another Supreme Council member, also said, “The clock is ticking for the special counsel to investigate the first lady,” adding that he wonders “what will be Yoon’s choice.”

The talks on special counsels reemerged after DPK floor leader Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo on Dec. 8 pledged that the majority-holding DPK will pass the two special counsel bills during a Dec. 28 National Assembly plenary session.

A special counsel probe refers to an investigation by an independent counsel ― called a special prosecutor — who works on cases involving high-ranking officials. To appoint this counsel, the Assembly either uses the existing Act on the Appointment of Independent Prosecutor or legislates a special bill for the respective case.

Opposition lawmakers have been mostly choosing to legislate new bills because the other way is more advantageous to the ruling side in terms of forming a committee to select a special counsel.

Both were proposed by the minor opposition Justice Party and endorsed by the DPK. The two special counsel bills were put on the Assembly’s fast-track system in April, which allows any bill to be tabled at a plenary session automatically after an eight-month deliberation period.

To pass the bills, the attendance of half of the lawmakers is necessary and the approval of half of those attending is required. The DPK holds 168 out of 300 seats, meaning it can pass the bills unilaterally.

Minor opposition Justice Party Reps Lee Eun-ju, left, and Bae Jin-gyo submit a bill on appointing a special counsel to investigate first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scandal at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, March 24. Yonhap

Pundits are saying this move is “the opposition checkmating Yoon and the ruling party.”

“Of the bills, the special counsel probe on the first lady is the key, and the point is that public sentiment toward the first lady remains negative,” said Park Sang-byeong, a professor at Inha University's Graduate School of Policy Science. Along with the stock manipulation scandal, she has been mired in a plagiarism allegation and faces constant suspicions over her influence on state affairs.

“If the bill passes, and Yoon approves that, the investigation will reach its peak in March, just a month before the general elections. The ruling party will have to carry on its campaign with fresh allegations and suspicions rising every day.”

The ruling party is already arguing that Yoon should exercise his veto rights against the special counsel bills.

“If an investigation begins, it will be a news magnet, and the party has no option but to stage election campaigns with debates on special counsel investigations,” PPP senior spokesperson Rep. Park Jeong-ha said in a radio interview with SBS. “(Yoon) absolutely has to veto the special counsels.”

PPP Rep. Ha Tae-keung, who is an ardent critic of Yoon, also said in a radio interview with BBS that “a veto will trigger criticisms due to the negative sentiment on the first lady, but Yoon has to exercise his rights.”

Park noted that vetoing the special counsel bill would draw a backlash. Since the PPP has been accusing the DPK of attempting to protect its chairman, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, from prosecution through political means, Yoon’s efforts to protect his wife could be perceived in a similar light.

“Yoon has already vetoed several bills passed by the DPK, and vetoing another will aggravate public sentiment and harm his neutrality as president,” Park said. “This will only make the DPK increase its offensives on Yoon and the PPP and urge voters to pass judgment on the ruling bloc.”

First Lady Kim Keon Hee listens to President Yoon Suk Yeol's speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sept. 20 (local time). Newsis

Public sentiment is also against Yoon exercising his veto rights. According to a Gallup Korea poll, 70 percent of respondents said Yoon should not veto the special counsel bill on the first lady.

The poll also showed that 67 percent of respondents in conservative strongholds Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province said Yoon should not veto the bill. The poll surveyed 1,033 respondents from Dec. 7 to 8 and was requested by the Kookmin Ilbo, a daily newspaper. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.

“Chances are high that Yoon will veto the special counsel bill, despite possible criticisms from the DPK,” Park said. “To turn the negative sentiment toward the ruling bloc away, Yoon may choose to create a bigger ripple by making a bold move in national policies, such as reforming the national pension.”