South Korean legislative subcommittee approves bill to extend special prosecutor's term

South Korea's National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill to extend the investigative period for a special prosecutor by 30 days. The subcommittee approved the measure on June 10, with ruling Democratic Party lawmakers attending and opposition People Power Party members absent.

The proposed extension aims to prolong the investigation into alleged corruption involving President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee. If the bill passes the plenary session, the investigation period would be extended from the current expiration on June 24 to July 23.

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Today, we processed the amendment to the Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors to Investigate the Truth of Treason and Foreign Treason and State Affairs Corruption by Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee.

Additionally, the bill would allow the special prosecutor to appoint defense attorneys with at least five years of legal experience. The scope of the investigation would also include "obstruction of audits" by public officials. The Ministry of National Defense has been added as an agency from which the special prosecutor can request personnel, and the number of dispatched public officials would increase from 130 to 150.

The subcommittee also discussed a bill to abolish prosecutors' supplementary investigation rights, a move that could significantly alter investigative procedures. Lawmakers acknowledged this as an initial step, with further discussions planned for the following week. The opposition's absence from the vote raises concerns about potential political deadlock over the special prosecutor's investigation.

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This is just the beginning of discussing the Criminal Procedure Act amendment.