The ruling and opposition parties are showing signs of a clash over the investigation period for the three major special investigations. The Democratic Party of Korea claims that the special investigations are unable to function properly due to the opposition figures' refusal to cooperate, demanding an extension of the investigation period. On the other hand, the People Power Party believes that the ruling party is extending the special investigation ahead of the local elections on June 3 next year. Both parties are preparing for the local elections, less than a year away, centered around the special investigations.
According to political and legal circles on the 31st, the Democratic Party of Korea has entered discussions about extending the investigation period for the three major special investigations related to insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and deceased Marines. This is aimed at addressing organized obstruction of the special investigations by opposition figures and pursuing necessary measures such as legal improvements and period extensions.
The Democratic Party of Korea appointed Jeon Hyun-hee as the overall chairperson the day before and launched the "Special Committee for Responding to the Three Major Special Investigations." The committee is comprised of 46 members, including current lawmakers and local committee chairpersons, forming a 'mammoth' team. It has designated a secretary for each special investigation (Insurrection Special Investigation, Park Seon-won; Kim Keon-hee Special Investigation, Jang Kyung-tae; Special Investigation for Deceased Marines, Jeon Yong-ki) to support the special investigations comprehensively.
The activities of the Special Committee for Responding to the Special Investigations are expected to focus primarily on extending the investigation period. The committee is examining support for amending the Special Investigation Act, actively responding to the extension of the investigation period, and establishing a special trial division for insurrection. On that day, former President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Seoul Detention Center, where he is incarcerated, to confirm the reasons for refusing to cooperate with the investigation and his absence from trial, emphasizing the difficulties faced by the special investigations.
Recently, there is a sentiment within the special investigations that "the extension is almost certain." The insurrection special investigation, which began on the 18th of last month, will operate until December 4, the deadline of the 170-day investigation. The Kim Keon-hee (170 days) and Special Investigation for Deceased Marines (140 days) investigations that launched on the 2nd will conduct investigations until December 18 and November 18, respectively. Although these investigations will be the longest in history, discussions about extending the investigation arose just 44 days after their inception. Particularly, the insurrection special investigation has the largest scale ever, involving 267 personnel.
The People Power Party is opposing the special investigations due to successive summons and searches of its current lawmakers. Analyses suggest that the background for the Democratic Party of Korea's push to extend the investigation period is influenced by the local elections on June 3 next year. If the investigation period is extended, it would allow the Democratic Party of Korea to investigate opposition figures until early next year, potentially enhancing its influence over public opinion regarding the local elections.
A senior member of the People Power Party said, "While it is burdensome for individual lawmakers to become subjects of investigation, the most important point is that it could negatively impact the local elections next year." He added, "We must respond to prevent the investigation period from being extended beyond 170 days and make it known that the special investigations are being used as a means of political oppression against the opposition parties."
The People Power Party is characterizing the special investigations, which even search for witnesses as in the case of Lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk, as political oppression. So far, the special investigations have conducted searches on People Power Party lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun, Lim Jong-deuk, Kweon Seong-dong, Lee Cheol-kyu, and Kim Seon-kyo. There was also an incident where Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, who opposed former President Yoon's martial law and supported impeachment, was summoned.
A member of the People Power Party's leadership said, "In the case of Lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk, an investigation warrant was issued despite there being no facts about the crime at all," adding, "As the special investigations are expanding their scope indefinitely, the investigation period should not be extended."