On the 19th, two special prosecutorial bills passed through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s legislative subcommittee in South Korea’s National Assembly. The first bill aims to investigate allegations related to Kim Keon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, through a permanent special prosecutor, known as the “Kim Keon-hee Permanent Special Prosecution Bill.” The second bill addresses alleged external pressure on customs drug investigations, known as the “Drug Investigation External Pressure Allegation Special Prosecution Bill.”
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee convened a meeting in the morning to review the requests for special investigations. The outcome was decided by the opposition party alone, without participation from the ruling party. The investigation into Kim Keon-hee includes alleged stock manipulation related to companies like Deutsche Motors, involvement in the approval process of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, and acceptance of luxury handbags.
The opposition party had previously attempted four times to conduct a regular special prosecution regarding Kim Keon-hee, but each attempt was blocked by the exercise of the president’s veto power, leading them to pivot to a permanent special prosecution law.
The “Drug Investigation External Pressure Allegation Special Prosecution Bill” relates to suspicions that staff at Incheon Airport Customs were involved in a case wherein a Malaysian drug organization smuggled drugs into the country in January 2023. Allegedly, the presidential office exerted pressure during the police investigation into this case.
Ruling party lawmakers, who claim the allegations lack validity and fail in fairness and equity, withdrew from the subcommittee meeting and did not partake in the voting.
These bills are set to be deliberated by the full Legislation and Judiciary Committee later in the day and are expected to be addressed in the main assembly meeting on the 20th. Given the ruling party’s opposition, these proposals are likely to be passed solely by the opposition party in both committees.