National Assembly passes special counsel bill on alleged fabricated indictments

The National Assembly, under the ruling Democratic Party, approved a bill on Friday to establish a special counsel investigation into claims of fabricated indictments against President Lee Jae Myung and other figures, following protests from the main opposition party. The bill received a 167-1 vote in a plenary session, after a filibuster by the People Power Party was lifted.

Members of the opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote. The bill, initially proposed by the Democratic Party in April, seeks an independent counsel to examine allegations that the prosecution under the previous administration, led by President Yoon Suk Yeol, invented evidence or coerced false statements to build cases against Lee and others.

The opposition party has vehemently opposed the bill, alleging it aims to invalidate all indictments against Lee. Opponents gathered outside the National Assembly before the vote, with plans to hold a demonstration in central Seoul on Saturday.