Ruling Party Faces Vote Defections on Special Investigation Bills
Opposition Considers Resubmitting Bills with Additional Charges
The so-called “Double Special Prosecution Bills,” targeting President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, were ultimately rejected in a revote at the National Assembly on the 8th, leading to their dismissal. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, have announced plans to reintroduce the insurrection investigation bill, adding “foreign intervention” as a subject of investigation. Meanwhile, the ruling party plans to negotiate revisions to the bills, removing what they consider detrimental clauses.
At the National Assembly’s plenary session in the afternoon, anonymous votes were conducted on two bills: one regarding the insurrection (focusing on truth-finding for alleged unconstitutional martial law declaration within the Yoon administration) and the other regarding allegations against Kim Keon-hee, the president’s spouse, concerning stock manipulation (Kim Keon-hee Special Prosecution Bill). These bills had passed in the session last month but were sent back to the National Assembly after acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok exercised a veto on December 31st.
In the voting result, with all 300 incumbent lawmakers present, the insurrection special prosecution bill (198 in favor, 101 against, 1 abstention) and the Kim Keon-hee special prosecution bill (196 in favor, 103 against, 1 invalid) were both rejected. For a bill to be passed upon reconsideration, it requires the presence of a majority of incumbent lawmakers and approval by at least two-thirds (200 votes) of those present. If all 192 opposition members voted in favor, it implies the ruling party had 6 and 4 defectors on each bill, respectively. In the initial vote on December 12, the defection was 5 for the insurrection bill and 4 for the Kim Keon-hee bill.
Before the plenary session, the People’s Power Party (PPP) held a party meeting and decided to maintain a position of opposing the bills. They regard the bills as unconstitutional because they exclude the ruling party entirely from recommending special prosecutors, potentially compromising the political neutrality of the investigations and the president’s power to appoint officials. The scope and ambiguity of the investigations could lead to broad investigations against ruling party figures. PPP floor leader Kwon Seong-dong denounced the bills as a “conservative annihilation law,” accusing the opposition of attempting to bring the entire conservative and right-wing sphere under investigation.
The insurrection bill designates President Yoon as the “mastermind of an insurrection” and seeks to investigate all suspicions surrounding the declaration of martial law during the December 3 emergency situation, including troop deployments to the National Assembly and actions affecting the National Election Commission.
The Kim Keon-hee investigation bill, proposed for the fourth time by the Democratic Party, follows three previously rejected attempts. The bill was resurrected the previous month after multiple failures. It seeks to investigate 15 areas concerning Kim Keon-hee, including allegations of stock manipulation with Deutsch Motors and illegal interventions in state affairs. On its third attempt, the investigation list was reduced to three areas to encourage defectors from the ruling party, but it was expanded again this time.
The Democratic Party plans to reintroduce the insurrection investigation bill, adding “foreign intervention” to the areas of investigation to create a tougher law. This addition involves activities threatening state security by instigating or supporting foreign interventions. The Democratic Party alleges President Yoon manufactured a pretext for martial law by provoking North Korean military aggression and insists on an investigation.
The ruling party is prepared to negotiate with the opposition to draft revisions removing contentious provisions in the bills. Given the public’s growing demand for investigations into martial law and allegations against Kim Keon-hee, merely rejecting the bills might lead to criticisms of shielding the presidential couple. Furthermore, it could increase defections in future voting. Spokesperson Park Soo-min indicated that discussions for revised proposals, including possibly having a third party recommend the special prosecutor, are under consideration.