The so-called 'Myung-tae-kyun Special Prosecutor Act' (a bill concerning the appointment of special prosecutors to investigate illegal election interference and the state affairs manipulation scandal related to Myung-tae-kyun) passed through the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 26th.
The Legislation and Judiciary Committee held a full meeting that day and passed the bill under the leadership of the opposition parties, including the Democratic Party. The ruling party, People Power Party, protested the agenda submission and the proceedings led by Democratic Party Commissioner Jeong Cheong-rae, and left the meeting entirely. They also abstained from voting. The special prosecutor bill will be introduced to the National Assembly's plenary session on the 27th.
People Power Party opposes the special prosecutor bill as a party line. However, as the Democratic Party holds a majority of seats (170 seats), it is likely to clear the threshold for the plenary session. People Power Party has decided to request the government to exercise the right of reconsideration (veto) if the bill passes the National Assembly.
The 'Myung-tae-kyun Special Prosecutor Act' is a law aimed at investigating allegations of election interference involving political broker Myung-tae-kyun and President Yoon's couple. Many figures from the ruling party, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, are also alleged to have engaged in transactions with Myung-tae-kyun.
The investigation targets include allegations of illegal polling and election interference by Myung-tae-kyun during the 2022 presidential election, local elections, and by-elections, as well as allegations concerning free polling provided by Myung-tae-kyun to President Yoon's couple and quid pro quo election involvement during the previous primary.
Additionally, the investigation targets include allegations of interference by Myung-tae-kyun and Kim Keon-hee, the spouse of President Yoon, in the selection process of the Daewoo Shipbuilding strike and the Changwon National Industrial Complex, as well as allegations of upper-level interference in the Changwon District Prosecutor's Office investigation. The opposition believes that the Changwon District Prosecutor's Office, which investigated Myung-tae-kyun, deliberately delayed the investigation into the election interference allegations involving President Yoon's couple, with involvement from the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office and the Office of the President's Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs.
The special prosecutor will be selected through a 'third-party nomination' method. According to the bill, the Chief Justice will recommend a list of special prosecutor candidates (two) to the President, and the President will appoint one of the candidates, but the Chief Justice must recommend candidates who have worked for more than 15 years as judges, prosecutors, or lawyers.