[COVER STORY] Special counsel bill deepens partisan rift over impact on Lee's suspended trials

A special counsel bill aimed at exposing alleged politically motivated investigations during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's term is intensifying a partisan rift over its potential impact on criminal cases against current President Lee Jae Myung. The ruling party supports the bill, arguing that it's necessary due to Lee and other liberal party leaders being unfairly indicted with fabricated evidence and false testimonies by prosecutors under Yoon's administration.

However, conservative opposition parties, led by the People Power Party, argue that Lee is abusing his power to evade criminal charges and are calling for his impeachment. This disagreement was further fueled on Monday when Justice Minister nominee Lee Yong-cheol stated that he would handle calls to drop charges against Lee "in accordance with the law and principles."

This position differs from that of former Minister Jung Sung-ho, who believed it was solely up to the prosecution to decide whether to nullify indictments against the president. Lee Yong-cheol, a longtime associate of Lee Jae Myung, was nominated for the position on Friday, leading the PPP to question whether his selection was intended to facilitate the bill's passage.