In a bold move, South Korea's opposition parties have submitted a bill to appoint a special counsel tasked with investigating former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of insurrection.
The proposal, spearheaded by six opposition parties including the main liberal Democratic Party, comes after the initial bill was dismissed in a revote. The previous attempt failed as the majority of the 108 ruling conservative People Power Party members voted against it.
To pass the bill during the revote, a two-thirds majority of the 300-member National Assembly is required. The revised bill suggests recommendations for two independent council candidates by the Supreme Court's chief justice, reduces the number of dispatched prosecutors and investigators to 155, and shortens the investigation period to 150 days compared to the first bill.
The impeachment motion against President Yoon was successfully passed by the National Assembly on December 14 last year and subsequently referred to the constitutional court, which has up to 180 days to deliberate. During this period, Yoon's presidential powers remain suspended.
Yoon, identified by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader in an insurrection, had declared martial law on December 3, a decision that was promptly revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
Reference(s):
Bill of special counsel investigation into Yoon Suk-yeol submitted
cgtn.com
