The "second comprehensive special counsel act," which continues the investigations by the three special counsels (insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, Chae Hae-byeong), passed the National Assembly's plenary session on the 16th under the lead of the Democratic Party of Korea.
The National Assembly held a plenary session that day and passed the "special counsel act to uncover the truth about insurrection, treason, and state manipulation committed by Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee (second comprehensive special counsel act)" with 172 votes in favor and 2 against out of 174 members present.
The Democratic Party said supplementary investigations were needed for insufficient parts of the earlier three special counsel probes or newly discovered criminal allegations and introduced the second comprehensive special counsel act. The special counsels will be recommended one each by the Democratic Party and the largest non-negotiating group, the Rebuilding Korea Party. The investigative personnel will be up to 251.
As the bill passed through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the investigation period subject was revised from around the Dec. 3 emergency martial law to "from March 2022 to December 2024." The subjects of investigation include former President Yoon Suk-yeol's alleged insurrection and treason, and suspicions of interference in nominations. It also includes "allegations that state agencies, local governments, or the military sided with the Dec. 3 emergency martial law or ordered or carried out follow-up martial law measures."
The investigation period is up to 170 days, including a 20-day preparation period. Barring any disruptions to the special counsel's operation, a wide-ranging investigation into the opposition is expected through the 9th nationwide local elections to be held on June 3.
Earlier, the People Power Party and the Reform Party labeled the second comprehensive special counsel act a "local-election political special counsel" and began a filibuster (a lawful obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate). As the first speaker in the filibuster, Reform Party Floor Leader Cheon Ha-ram spoke for nearly 19 hours.
Through the filibuster, Floor Leader Cheon said, "Among many people, there are plenty who do not know when the three special counsels ended. Many will wonder why a second special counsel is necessary," adding, "If the special counsel siphons off all investigative resources, inevitably there will be gaps in cases affecting livelihoods and cases involving ordinary people."
The Democratic Party moved to end the filibuster at 3:45 p.m. that day after the debate by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Seong-yun. Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be ended 24 hours after it begins with the approval of three-fifths of the members.