South Korea’s political landscape faces renewed turbulence as opposition parties resubmit a bill to appoint a special counsel to investigate impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of insurrection. On Thursday, six opposition parties, including the main liberal Democratic Party, brought the bill before the National Assembly. This move follows the scrapping of the initial bill during a revote the previous day, where the majority of the 108 ruling conservative People Power Party members voted against it.
For the bill to pass in the revote, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of the 300 National Assembly lawmakers. The revised bill proposes that two candidates for independent counsel be recommended by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the number of dispatched prosecutors and investigators, as well as the investigation period, have been reduced to 155 personnel and 150 days, respectively, compared to the original proposal.
The impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on December 14 of last year and has been forwarded to the Constitutional Court, which has up to 180 days to deliberate. During this period, President Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended, placing the country’s leadership in a state of uncertainty.
President Yoon has been identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader in an insurrection charge. He declared martial law on the night of December 3, a decision that was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly just hours later. This sequence of events has intensified political divisions and sparked widespread debate among the public.
The unfolding situation has significant implications for South Korea’s political stability and its position on the global stage. Observers are keenly watching how these developments will impact the nation’s democracy, governance, and international relations.
Reference(s):
Bill of special counsel investigation into Yoon Suk-yeol submitted
cgtn.com
