The Answer to the Fabricated-Indictment Special Prosecutor Dilemma Lies in the Kim Dae-jung Era

With President Lee Jae-myung facing the dilemma of whether to appoint a special prosecutor (an independent prosecutor tasked with the investigation) over 'fabricated indictments,' a case from the era of former President Kim Dae-jung is being raised on the 8th as a possible solution to this impasse.

On November 6, at the National Assembly plenary session, the 'Act on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor to Investigate the Truth Behind Allegations of Fabricated Investigations and Fabricated Indictments by the Prosecution Service, National Intelligence Service, Board of Audit and Inspection, and Other Agencies under the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration' was passed with 167 votes in favor and 1 against out of 168 members present. People Power Party lawmakers did not participate in the vote.

On November 6, the day the special prosecutor bill passed the National Assembly, President Lee Jae-myung nominated Defense Acquisition Program Administration chief Lee Yong-chul as his new justice minister nominee. Lee had served as an executive recommendation committee member when Yoo Dong-kyu, former head of the planning office at Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, was hired by the Seongnam City Facility Management Corporation in 2010. He was appointed head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in November last year and nominated as minister just about a year later.

The dilemma over whether to appoint the special prosecutor is expected to continue alongside upcoming procedures such as the personnel confirmation hearing.