Seoul: The government has approved three revised bills extending special counsel investigations into corruption allegations involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife. These bills, passed by the National Assembly earlier this month, were given the green light during a Cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and will now proceed to President Lee Jae Myung for signing and promulgation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the revisions permit the extension of three special counsel investigations by up to 30 days and increase the number of assistant special counsels and other personnel on the investigation teams. The investigations focus on Yoon’s unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law, various corruption allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee, and the alleged cover-up of a Marine’s death in 2023.
Initially, the special counsels could extend their investigations by 30 days at their discretion and seek an additional 30-day extension with presidential approval. The revised bills now allow two 30-day extensions at the discretion of the special counsels.
In terms of personnel changes, the martial law investigation team will receive 10 additional prosecutors and 40 more public servants. The team investigating the former first lady will have two more assistant special counsels, 30 additional prosecutors, and 60 more public servants. Meanwhile, the Marine probe team will gain 10 more prosecutors, 20 additional public servants, and 10 special investigators.
Additionally, the revisions mandate that trials stemming from these investigations be televised if requested, provided there are no special reasons to deny such broadcasts. The bills were passed after the ruling Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the Assembly, reversed an agreement with the main opposition People Power Party to avoid extending the investigations and to limit personnel increases.