Ruling Party Slams Opposition's Special Prosecutor Extension Plan as 'Political Retaliation'

South Korea's ruling People Power Party has sharply criticized the main opposition Democratic Party's initiative to extend the investigative period for a special prosecutor. The conservative party proposed amending the bill to extend the probe until the end of former President Lee Jae-myung's potential term, sarcastically implying the opposition's true goal.

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Why extend the investigation period, extend it, and extend it again? How long will you extend the investigation period?

Rep. Chung Jin-suk, the People Power Party's interim leader, voiced strong opposition on his Facebook page. He questioned the continuous extensions of the special prosecutor's term, labeling the move a "permanent organization for political retaliation" aimed at suppressing opposition politicians.

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It is being used as a permanent organization for political retaliation to suppress opposition politicians.

Earlier, the Democratic Party, through its floor leader Rep. Kim Seung-won, had announced the passage of an amendment to the special prosecutor bill in the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. This amendment extends the investigation period by 30 days and broadens its scope to include obstruction of audits. The bill also allows individuals with over five years of legal experience to serve as prosecutors for the special counsel, with the special prosecutor appointing these legal representatives.

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We have passed the amendment to the special prosecutor bill. The activity period has been extended by 30 days, and the scope of investigation has been expanded to include obstruction of audits.