Ruling Party Pushes for Expanded Special Counsel Investigation After Overcoming Yoon's Vetoes… PPP Protests "Oppression" (Summary)

Possibility of Processing Special Counsel Act Amendment on the 27th Following Judiciary Committee; Ruling Party's Fast-Track Strategy Intensifies Confrontation

Ruling Party Temporarily Suspends Fast-Tracking of "Public Institution Anti-Packing Bill"

Filibuster on the Yellow Envelope Act (SEOUL=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Dong-ju = People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyung-dong delivers a filibuster on the Yellow Envelope Act (Partial Amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) at the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd. 2025.8.23 pdj6635@yna.co.kr

With the September regular session of the National Assembly approaching—the ultimate battleground for political power—the "hardline vs. hardline" confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties is intensifying.

The Democratic Party plans to conclude the processing of bills previously hit by the "Yoon Suk-yeol veto" around the 25th, overcoming the People Power Party’s filibusters (legal parliamentary obstruction through unlimited debate). Following this, they intend to push for the amendment of the Special Counsel Act to extend the investigation period and expand the scope of the probe into former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife.

The People Power Party argues that the Democratic Party is pushing through reckless legislation solely for its base while ignoring the livelihoods of the people. Following their filibuster efforts, the PPP is escalating its opposition, framing the Special Counsel Act amendment as part of a strategy to maintain the "insurrection party" narrative through the local elections next June.

Lawmaker Kim Hyung-dong, filibuster on the Yellow Envelope Act (SEOUL=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Dong-ju = People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyung-dong delivers a filibuster on the Yellow Envelope Act (Partial Amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) at the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd. 2025.8.23 pdj6635@yna.co.kr

◇ Ruling Party to Wrap Up "Tougher Commercial Act" on the 25th… Opposition Stages Filibuster

Following the passage of the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act) at the plenary session on the 24th, the Democratic Party is set to process a "toughened" second amendment to the Commercial Act on the 25th.

For the Democratic Party, the sequential passage of the "Three Broadcasting Acts"—passed during the July session and the plenary session on the 22nd—along with the Yellow Envelope Act and the Commercial Act amendment, marks the conclusion of the reform bills that were previously blocked by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's vetoes during the August session.

Democratic Party Representative Jung Chung-rae stated at a general meeting of lawmakers held after the passage of the Yellow Envelope Act, "We are doing historically significant work, including the Yellow Envelope Act, the Commercial Act, and the Broadcasting Acts."

The People Power Party used filibusters to highlight their claim that the Yellow Envelope Act and the Commercial Act amendment submitted to the plenary session would have negative impacts on the economy and people's livelihoods.

They particularly point out that the Lee Jae-myung government’s insistence on pushing through the Yellow Envelope Act and the Commercial Act—which the PPP labels "economic evil laws"—while simultaneously emphasizing economic growth, is hypocritical.

Song Eon-seok, Chairman of the Emergency Response Committee and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly and emphasized, "The Democratic Party is determined to force through 'economic insurrection laws' such as the illegal strike promotion law and the tougher Commercial Act." He added that they are considering filing a constitutional complaint after reviewing the constitutionality of both bills.

Special Committee on the 3 Major Special Counsel Probes briefing in front of Seoul Detention Center (Uiwang=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Dong-ju = Lawmakers from the Democratic Party's Special Committee on the 3 Major Special Counsel Probes brief reporters after visiting the Seoul Detention Center, where former President Yoon Suk-yeol is incarcerated, on the 11th. 2025.8.11 pdj6635@yna.co.kr

◇ Ruling Party Pushes for Expanded Special Counsel Investigation… Opposition Protests "Political Oppression"

The Democratic Party plans to process an amendment to expand the scope and duration of the special counsel investigation into former President Yoon and his wife after finishing the Commercial Act amendment.

To this end, the Democratic Party has convened the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, chaired by hardliner Rep. Choo Mi-ae, as early as the 25th.

The Democratic Party plans to introduce and review amendments to the Kim Keon-hee and Insurrection Special Counsel Acts, which include expanding the investigation to cover allegations surrounding Kim Ye-seong, known as the housekeeper for Kim Keon-hee’s family, and including special provisions for investigating fugitives abroad.

The Democratic Party is also considering a plan to fast-track these bills at the plenary session as early as the 27th.

A key official from the party’s floor leadership told Yonhap News, "Looking at the information that has surfaced like a string of sweet potatoes through the current investigation, there is a clear need to expand the scope," adding, "It could be passed at the plenary session as early as the 27th."

Regarding this, floor spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung told reporters after the general meeting, "The floor leadership is discussing with the Speaker when to table the Special Counsel Act amendment."

Spokesperson Kim explained, "There are four main points of contention: whether to exclude the investigation period during the preparation phase, whether to increase the number of dispatched prosecutors or public officials, whether to include dispatched prosecutors in addition to special counsel assistants for maintaining public prosecution, and whether to add the scope of investigation for additional criminal complaints. We are finalizing these specific details now."

The People Power Party is strongly protesting the Democratic Party's attempt to amend the Special Counsel Act.

They believe the Democratic Party is using the "special counsel card" to frame the PPP as an "insurrection party" to gain electoral advantages.

The PPP’s stance is that they cannot accept the expansion of the special counsel’s investigative powers through legal amendments, as it disregards the standard procedure where a special counsel—a temporary institution—is expected to refer crimes committed by non-targets uncovered during an investigation to other law enforcement agencies.

A key PPP official stated, "The attempt to amend the Special Counsel Act is evidence that the special counsel is a puppet of the Democratic Party," adding, "We will oppose any legally amended, politically motivated efforts until the end."

Another official criticized, "It is not the first or second time the Democratic Party has recklessly pushed through bills they want without respecting the cooling-off period," adding, "They are unilaterally processing any bill as long as it serves a political objective."

Emergency Response Committee Chairman Song Eon-seok attending the plenary session (SEOUL=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Dong-ju = People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman and Floor Leader Song Eon-seok attends the National Assembly plenary session in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 23rd. 2025.8.23 pdj6635@yna.co.kr

◇ Ruling Party to Process Osong Disaster Probe on the 27th… Suspends Fast-Tracking of "Anti-Packing Bill"

The Democratic Party, holding a clear majority, plans to process a plan for a parliamentary investigation into the Osong disaster at the plenary session on the 27th.

The Osong disaster occurred when the Miho River levee collapsed near the Gungpyeong 2 Underpass in Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, during heavy rainfall in 2023. Floodwaters inundated the underpass, submerging city buses and resulting in 14 deaths.

The Democratic Party believes a parliamentary investigation is necessary to uncover the truth and establish preventive measures for this disaster, which occurred during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

The People Power Party maintains an opposition in principle to the Osong disaster investigation, claiming it has political motivations to attack the Yoon Suk-yeol government.

Furthermore, the Democratic Party has temporarily suspended its plan to designate the so-called "Public Institution Anti-Packing Bill" (amendment to the Act on the Management of Public Institutions), which would align the terms of public institution heads with the President, as a fast-track bill at the plenary session on the 27th.

A party official stated, "There were many opinions that we should at least let it go through the standing committee rather than fast-tracking it directly at the plenary session, so we decided not to designate it on the 27th." Yonhap News