The Democratic Party of Korea's push for a "special counsel bill on alleged fabricated investigations and indictments by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration" drew strong criticism from the opposition bloc. Concerns are also growing within the Democratic Party.
On the 4th, People Power Party and Reform Party candidates for metropolitan mayor and governor in the Seoul metropolitan area held an emergency joint meeting at the National Assembly and declared their determination to block the special counsel bill that would cancel the indictment of the president, which the Democratic Party is pushing.
Cho Eung-cheon, the Reform Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, who proposed the meeting, said, "It is not easy for metropolitan candidates in the capital area to gather in one place across party lines like this, but the Lee Jae-myung–Democratic Party administration is making us unite as one," and added, "How on earth can a special counsel appointed by the president cancel an indictment and erase the president's crime? This is an act that shakes the very foundation of the rule of law and is a judicial rebellion."
Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, also said, "We cannot sit idly by as the Lee Jae-myung administration destroys the rule of law and democracy. In what democratic country in the world does someone attempt a self-pardon for their own crime?" and added, "All political forces except the Democratic Party must come together and respond with extraordinary resolve and determination to this situation."
Yoo Jeong-bok, the People Power Party candidate for Incheon mayor, Yang Hyang-ja, the People Power Party candidate for Gyeonggi governor, and Kim Jeong-cheol, the Reform Party candidate for Seoul mayor, also attended the meeting.
Within the Democratic Party, concerns were raised about the special counsel bill. Centered on the Seoul metropolitan area and Yeongnam region, some noted that forcing through the bill could negatively affect the local elections.
Kim Boo-kyum, the Democratic Party candidate for Daegu mayor, said at the Daegu City Party's Sure Victory Forward Rally on the 3rd, "Because you look at the overall political situation, if you are not intending to abandon the comrades who are struggling here, I want to ask you to be prudent with a single casual remark you make or with a bill you think is necessary."
Meeting with reporters that day, candidate Kim explained his remarks from the previous day, saying, "If you consider the situation of candidates working hard in difficult regions, even when submitting bills or stating positions, please proceed with work after carefully considering these aspects and the anticipated concerns." It is also reported that Rep. Kwon Chil-seung, who serves as a co-chair of Kim's campaign committee, proposed in a group chat of Democratic Party lawmakers to postpone handling the special counsel bill until after the local elections.
However, the party leadership is not solidifying a plan to handle the special counsel bill within this month. Party leader Jung Chung-rae said at the supreme council meeting held at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center, "A special counsel is a mission of the times to realize judicial justice," adding, "It is the process of normalizing the judiciary by correcting the wrongs of the Yoon Suk-yeol prosecutorial dictatorship."
Supreme Council member Lee Seong-yoon also said, "If political prosecutors fabricated nonexistent crimes and indicted by pinning absurd charges, holding them accountable accords with the principle of justice," and added, "Through the special counsel, we must uncover the full truth of the targeted and fabricated investigations committed by Yoon Suk-yeol's political prosecutors and reveal the forces behind them to the end and settle the matter."