Politics · South Korea · 6 hrs ago
South Korea’s Democratic Party plans to advance special counsel bill after audit
South Korea’s Democratic Party plans to advance a special counsel bill after parliament’s audit ends later this month.
The bill would investigate what the party calls fabricated indictments, and the party says the president’s request to remove a clause on cancelling prosecutions has lowered political risks.
The party is also considering a parliamentary inquiry into Chief Justice Jo Hee-dae before deciding whether to seek his impeachment.
Calls for action grew after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was acquitted in an appeals court.
Party leaders want to settle the chief justice issue by the end of the year, partly because his term ends next June.
The party also plans to revisit reforms to the court administration system.
It has not set a date for the inquiry or decided whether to pursue impeachment, and party plans could change if public opinion worsens.
South Korea’s Democratic Party plans to move forward with a special counsel bill on alleged fabricated indictments after parliamentary audits end.
The party has already prepared the bill through its policy committee.
The bill’s proposed clause allowing prosecutors to cancel indictments was dropped at President Lee Jae Myung’s request, easing some concerns within the party.
The party plans to discuss an investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae after the audits, with some leaders saying the issue should be resolved this year.
- Who
- South Korea’s Democratic Party plans to advance the bill.
- What
- The party plans to pursue a special counsel bill on alleged fabricated indictments after parliamentary audits. It also plans to discuss an investigation into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.
- When
- After the parliamentary audits end, expected late in October 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The party says it intends to pursue the bill and address allegations concerning the chief justice. The sources do not state a specific reason for the bill.
Democratic Party leaders favor an investigation first
Party members calling for immediate impeachment
Approach to Cho Hee-dae
Democratic Party leaders favor an investigation first
Leaders favor first pursuing a parliamentary investigation to establish grounds for possible impeachment.
Party members calling for immediate impeachment
Some party members, including hardliners, are calling for immediate impeachment.
Timing
Democratic Party leaders favor an investigation first
Party figures say the issue should be resolved by the end of the year.
Party members calling for immediate impeachment
The sources do not state a separate timeline for those calling for immediate impeachment.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae was photographed arriving at the Supreme Court in Seoul.
South Korea’s parliamentary audits are expected to end.
The Democratic Party expects to discuss an investigation into Cho and plans to advance the special counsel bill.
- Bill
- Special counsel bill on alleged fabricated indictments
- Bill preparation
- Drafted by the Democratic Party’s policy committee
- Proposed clause
- Prosecutors’ power to cancel indictments; President Lee asked that it be excluded
- Target timing
- After parliamentary audits end in late October 2026
- Cho’s term
- Due to end in June 2027
1 source
What people are saying
We will proceed step by step as originally planned, including a parliamentary investigation.
We’ll probably push it right after the parliamentary audit ends.
Whether we hold a parliamentary investigation or go as far as impeachment after it, we need to wrap this up without letting the year pass.