Jung Jeong-sik: 'If the rigged-prosecution special counsel bill is tabled, we will filibuster every bill'

Ruling People Power Party floor leader Jung Jeong-sik said Sunday that if the main opposition Democratic Party pushes through its rigged-prosecution special counsel bill (a bill to drop and reinvestigate indictments that prosecutors themselves withdrew, via a special investigative team), the party will mount a full response — including filibusters on every bill tabled that day. Criticizing the Democrats' decision to adopt the bill as party policy ahead of a possible vote at the National Assembly plenary session as early as May 5, Jung said at the Assembly, "The Democratic Party's adoption of the indictment-withdrawal special counsel bill at its general meeting is intended to obstruct the trials of the president and his associates," adding, "Ruling-party lawmakers buried the rule of law in South Korea at their caucus."

Regarding the Democrats' plan to also handle key bills at the May 5 plenary — including the Democratic Merit Act, urban redevelopment acts and the Yongsan Park Special Act — Jung said, "We will gather opinions at our caucus and decide on obstruction measures, including a filibuster."

Within the Democratic Party, leader Kim Min-seok apologized at Sunday's closed-door general meeting to those harmed by the "three-way secret alliance" allegations — anti-Lee Jae-myung, factionalism, and Shincheonji ties — raised during the party convention process, saying the investigation found no evidence. Former leader Chung Chung-rae demanded a public apology and accountability from Kim.

Jung accused the Democrats of unilaterally burying the allegations, saying, "The Democratic Party is not an investigative body — how can it determine whether a secret alliance existed?" He urged, "The police and the Corruption Investigation Office must investigate the Democratic Party immediately," adding, "If both parties faced identical allegations but the Democrats bury theirs internally while the PPP is investigated, what citizen could trust the authorities?"

A Democratic Party spokesperson said a plenary vote on a National Assembly investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de would be difficult on May 5, as the party plans further consultations. Jung dismissed this as "testing public opinion," saying, "I don't think they've abandoned the probe. I suspect they will try to table it again at a plenary session after May 5."