Opposition lawmakers submit a special counsel bill mandating an investigation into the self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun to the bill division of the National Assembly in Seoul on February 11. From left, Yoon Jong-oh, floor leader of the Progressive Party, Seo Young-kyo, head of the Democratic Party of Korea, Jung Chun-saeng, deputy floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, Han Chang-min, leader of the Social Democratic Party, and Yong Hye-in, leader of the Basic Income Party. Reporter Park Min-kyu

The six opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), proposed a special counsel bill to investigate allegations against President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife’s illegal involvement in the parliamentary by-elections on February 11. The bill is understood to be intended to reignite the issue of “Myung Tae-kyun’s Influence-peddling Scandal” to raise public opinion in favor of Yoon’s impeachment and to pressure the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP)’s presidential candidates who are involved in the allegations.

The six opposition parties submitted a special counsel bill (a bill to appoint special prosecutors to investigate the truth about illegal involvement in by-elections and manipulation of state affairs related to Myung Tae-kyun) to the National Assembly's bill division.

The DPK believes that a special counsel investigation is necessary to fully uncover the truth behind the Yoon’s declaration of emergency martial law on December 3 last year. DPK lawmaker Seo Young-kyo, who is also the head of the “Myung Tae-kyun’s Influence-peddling Scandal Investigation Team,” told reporters, “We believe that many things related to Myung were the trigger for the illegal martial law declaration.” The prospect of revelations of Yoon’s illegal involvement in the parliamentary by-elections involving Myung is said to have played a role in Yoon's decision to declare martial law.

The DPK also cited the prosecution's sluggish investigation into Myung as a reason for the need for a special counsel investigation. Kim Yong-min, the deputy floor leader of the DPK, stressed the need for a special counsel investigation at the party’s meeting, saying, "On December 12 last year, Changwon District Prosecutors' Office obtained Myung’s “golden phone,” which has key evidence,” but the prosecution does not summon politicians related to Myung and First Lady Kim Keon-hee. He added, ”I wonder if they are watching the investigation into the insurgency and trying to get around it by just petering out according to the results.”

The investigation targets of the special counsel bill are largely divided into two categories: involvement in the parliamentary by-elections and manipulation of state affairs. The first is the suspicion of illegal and false opinion polls in the 2022 local elections, parliamentary by-elections, and 2024 general elections, and election intervention through this. In this regard, the suspected interests and preferential dealings between Myung and Yoon’s couple are subject to investigation. The second is the suspicion of manipulation of state affairs that intervened in major policy decisions by the government and local governments, including the strike of Daewoo Shipbuilding and the selection of site for the Changwon National Industrial Complex. The involvement of Myung and the first lady, who are civilians, is the reason why they were judged to be involved in the manipulation of state affairs.

The opposition's proposal for the special counsel bill is also intended to reignite the Myung’s scandal to highlight the alleged illegal activities of President Yoon and his wife, and in doing so, create momentum in favor of his impeachment. It also has the effect of reviving the controversy over First Lady Kim, who disappeared from the impeachment process. In addition, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon Pyo, and Lee Joon-seok, a lawmaker of the Reform Party, are all involved in the scandal. From the DPK’s perspective, the special counsel bill could have a secondary effect of keeping the ruling party's presidential candidates in check.

“I welcome the proposal for the special counsel bill. The special counsel investigation is what I truly hope for,” Myung said on his social media account on that day. “Please make sure to include all allegations related to me, including interference in the parliamentary by-elections and the presidential election, and violation of political finance law, illegal manipulation of opinion polls, intervention in the selection of site for the Changwon National Industrial Complex, instigation of prosecutors to destroy evidence in the golden phone, and even the case filed by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo,” he wrote.

The DPK aims to pass the special counsel bill within the month. The bill is scheduled to be referred to the subcommittee of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee on February 12 and voted on by the full committee on the 19th, and the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 20th.