The six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, are accelerating efforts to pass the "Myeong Tae-kyun Special Prosecutor Law" within this month. The People Power Party opposed it, claiming it was for the purpose of countering an early presidential election. The implication is that there is a "political calculation" aimed at targeting ruling party potential candidates such as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo who are suspected of being involved in the "Myeong Tae-kyun Gate."
On the 12th, opposition party lawmakers, in the absence of ruling party members, submitted the special prosecutor law to the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee. This is just one day after the bill was proposed.
The opposition plans to hold a subcommittee next week to review and vote on the special prosecutor law, followed by a vote at the National Assembly's plenary session within this month. They pressured the ruling party, stating, "If you are confident in relation to the Myeong Tae-kyun Gate, you should openly support the special prosecutor law." The legislation and judiciary committee also decided to summon Myeong Tae-kyun as a witness for the emergency inquiry scheduled for the 19th.
On the other hand, ruling party members of the National Assembly's legislation and judiciary committee criticized, "It is undisputed that clarifying the allegations regarding Myeong Tae-kyun is something that includes the People Power Party. However, no facts can be revealed through such a specially intended special prosecutor law; it will only provoke political conflict."
The People Power Party points out that the Myeong Tae-kyun Special Prosecutor Law contradicts ▲the principle of supplementary investigation of the special prosecutor ▲neutralizes the President's discretion in personnel matters ▲and includes unconstitutional elements by allowing a 30-day extension if the investigation is not completed within 60 days, which is predicated on prosecution.
In particular, they have determined that the intent is heavily oriented towards "political strife" and will move to abolish the special prosecutor law as a united front. They believe there is a strategic intention from the opposition to check the ruling party candidates should an early presidential election become visible. The Myeong Tae-kyun Special Prosecutor Law names seven investigations, including allegations that Myeong Tae-kyun engaged in illegal polls and election interference during the 2022 local elections, reby-elections, the 20th presidential election, and the 22nd general election.
In other words, it is a strategy to pressure potential ruling party candidates such as Mayor Oh and Mayor Hong, who are suspected of being involved in the so-called "Myeong Tae-kyun Gate." Predictions in political circles suggest that if the special prosecutor law passes, the impact will be significant in connection with the timeline for an early presidential election. Furthermore, there are observations that even if the special prosecutor law does not pass, the opposition will continue to use the Myeong Tae-kyun Gate for public opinion warfare.
People Power Party lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuk pointed out before leaving the legislation and judiciary committee on this day, "There is an intention to include the People Power Party candidates somehow as a target of investigation so that the ruling party cannot take any action."
In fact, the ruling party's presidential contenders who have faced allegations also reacted strongly to the "Myeong Tae-kyun Special Prosecutor Law."
Mayor Oh met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, "Isn't it because the investigation is delayed that the Democratic Party is unexpectedly bringing up the special prosecutor?" He urged for a prompt investigation by the prosecution. Last year, he filed a complaint against Myeong and others for charges including obstruction of business. Mayor Hong also stated on Facebook that "I don't need to care about Myeong Tae-kyun, a swindler and opinion rigging criminal, ranting as he pleases, and added that he filed an additional complaint against Myeong and his lawyer yesterday (the 11th)."
The key issue is "defections within the ruling party." If the special prosecutor law passes in the plenary session this month, and Acting President and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok exercises his veto power, a re-vote is expected next month. Assuming that all opposition party members (192 members) support it, the bill can pass with eight votes from defectors within the ruling party.
The non-mainstream faction within the ruling party is showing a current against the special prosecutor law. The special prosecutor is utilized when the prosecution's investigation is deficient or inadequate, and investigations are currently underway at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office.
People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-guk appeared on a radio program and stated, "It is hard to see that there are no political intentions in raising this issue at this point" and expressed concern that "between now and the next two months, before the presidential election, a truth game regarding Myeong Tae-kyun could have a very detrimental impact on our party."
Another member of the pro-Han faction stated in a conversation with ChosunBiz, "The prosecution is currently investigating, so what else is needed? I think that the special prosecutor law does not meet the requirements of exceptions and supplements, so I do not want to support it unnecessarily."
There are also indications that if the early presidential election heats up, voices demanding to resolve the allegations within the party may grow. Former Representative Han Dong-hoon, during his tenure as party leader, pushed for the "Myeong Tae-kyun Prevention Law" and party oversight after text messages between Kim Keon-hee and Myeong were made public, stating, "I will prevent political brokers and opportunists from thriving in conservative politics and the People Power Party."
If the investigation remains sluggish, there is also a possibility that demands for the special prosecutor law will arise from within the ruling party. Lawmaker Kim Sang-wook stated, "We need to look at how credible the Changwon District Prosecutors' investigation has been and how much public interest there is. We are still in the stage of deliberation about those aspects."
A non-mainstream pro-Han member said, "There could also be a purpose of splitting the party internally regarding the special prosecutor law, and whether public skepticism about the Myeong Tae-kyun issue is high enough to adopt the special prosecutor law will become a determining factor."