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Democratic bill to extend special counsel probe delayed by opposition filibuster
South Korea's ruling Democratic Party proposed extending a combined special counsel probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree and related cases. The main opposition party responded with a filibuster that pushed any vote to Tuesday afternoon.
Jul 20, 1:55 AM·1m read1 source
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The ruling Democratic Party introduced a bill Monday to extend a comprehensive special counsel investigation by 30 days and expand its scope and staffing. The measure would move the current July 24 deadline to August 23, raise the number of dispatched public officials from 130 to 150, and add obstruction of audits by public officials to the matters under review.
The investigation, launched in February, combines three separate probes into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law in December 2024, allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and the death of a young Marine.
Lawmakers cited concerns that the earlier probes had ended without fully addressing key allegations. When the Democratic Party placed the proposal before the parliamentary plenary session, the main opposition People Power Party launched a filibuster in protest. The procedural step delayed a vote until Tuesday afternoon.
Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be ended after 24 hours if at least 180 lawmakers, or three-fifths of all members, consent. A parliamentary plenary session was held at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 18.
