Democratic Party to Force Passage of 3 Major Counsel Extensions at Plenary Session on the 20th

Pushing for Plenary Session to Extend 3 Major Independent Counsels

The Democratic Party is pushing a plan to hold a National Assembly plenary session on the 20th to pass the "Second Comprehensive Special Counsel Extension Act," which seeks to further extend the investigation periods for the so-called three major special counsels: the investigation into insurrection, allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Gun-hee, and the Marine Corps special counsel. Kim Seong-hoi, the party's floor spokesperson, officially announced the party's decision to convene the plenary session next Monday to pass the extension bill, following a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly on the 16th. This comes amid a parliamentary deadlock caused by the main opposition People Power Party's boycott of National Assembly formalities, signaling the ruling party's clear intent to unilaterally force through this bill alongside livelihood bills.

Han Byeong-do, acting party leader and floor leader, strongly criticized the PPP for its total boycott of the Assembly schedule, which has left 59 pending livelihood bills in limbo. Warning that the opposition party would face "grave consequences" if it continued to snub the Assembly, he criticized the opposition for abandoning the spirit of cooperation required for forming the second half of the Assembly. This stance directly clashes with the opposition's argument that large-scale special counsel investigations have resulted in repeated defeats, countering the rationale that the abuses of politically motivated retaliatory investigations must be halted even as the administration's term nears its end.

Debate Over Extending Investigation Deadlines

The positions of the ruling and opposition parties regarding the passage of this bill are sharply divided. The Democratic Party maintains that guaranteeing sufficient investigation time and authority for the special counsel is essential for uncovering the truth. Conversely, PPP leader Dong-Hyeok Chang dismissed the move, arguing that extending the three major special counsels—which have consumed taxpayers' money without results—is a waste of public funds. He criticized the ruling party for strongly pushing for political intent while rejecting measures restricting citizens' rights, such as the restoration of suffrage. The PPP has defined the Second Comprehensive Special Counsel Extension Act, which the Democratic Party passed unilaterally through the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, as a clear abuse of authority.

The PPP declared it would employ a filibuster, engaging in unlimited debate to counter the move. They plan to occupy the chamber to physically and temporally obstruct the Democratic Party's forced passage. Simultaneously, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, chairman of the National Assembly Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, argued that regarding the June 3 local election ballot shortage scandal, a recount and a special counsel must proceed like a two-horse carriage. Rep. Yoon pointed out that suspicions are never resolved by time alone, and that the Democratic Party's refusal to allow a recount while forcing through a special counsel constitutes a double standard that defies common sense. He emphasized that the two issues are not a choice but complementary, urging the ruling party to accept both simultaneously.

Stagnant Investigations and Political Fallout

This push for forced passage stems largely from the current practical limitations of the special counsel investigations. The Second Comprehensive Special Counsel, investigating the alleged change in the route of the Yangpyeong Highway, heightened tensions as Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young launched a coercive investigation into former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong. However, former Minister Won strongly denied the allegations on his social media on the 15th, stating the special counsel should stop manufacturing crimes. This illustrates the political and judicial confrontation occurring amidst a situation where, despite physical coercive measures like search and seizures, the investigation team has failed to make clear progress in proving core allegations.

The ruling party's attempt to intentionally extend the investigation period is analyzed as a defensive strategy to evade responsibility for election defeat and minimize political damage. As the investigation drags on, public skepticism regarding the limits and efficiency of the special counsel—which consumes massive national funds—is growing. The opposition party is using this to pressure the ruling party, arguing that the plenary session schedule must be normalized to stop wasting the national budget and pass sincere livelihood bills. Ultimately, the passage of this bill is expected to serve as a key test bed for gauging the dominance of power in the next political landscape.

Legislative Schedule and Parliamentary Outlook

If the plenary session proceeds on the 20th, the National Assembly is expected to face extreme political friction. If the PPP's threatened filibuster is launched, the plenary session hall will transform into a marathon debate arena with no time limits. Consequently, the timing for processing the 59 livelihood bills becomes even more uncertain, likely deepening the paralysis of the Assembly's legislative function. The issue of a recount via the National Assembly Special Committee and the three major special counsel bills are intertwined as massive political issues surrounding elections and impeachment, hampering state administration.

Given the extreme confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties, finding a compromise appears difficult. While the Democratic Party aims to pass the bill using its majority and secure victory in the upcoming elections, the PPP is likely to focus its efforts on clarifying the opposition's responsibility by resisting until the end through indefinite debate. Whether the key schedule for the 20th plenary session materializes or is thwarted by the opposition's obstruction tactics will be the biggest watershed for this political situation. With countless livelihood bills left abandoned as sacrifices to political strife, the National Assembly faces a critical moment where it must urgently halt political infighting and derive a serious social consensus regarding the direction and budget execution of the special counsel, which is funded by taxpayers' money.