Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act Submitted to Plenary, People Power Party Starts Filibuster... Yoon Sanghyun: "A Country for the Democratic Party"

Amendment Extending Special Prosecutor's Term and Increasing Personnel Submitted to Plenary Session

People Power Party Expected to Vote After Filibuster Ends on July 21

Speaker Cho Jeong-sik: "The Assembly Must Show Its Full Commitment to Se

On July 20, the National Assembly placed on the plenary session agenda the amendment to the Special Prosecutor Act (Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act) concerning the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate alleged acts of rebellion, foreign exchange crimes, and government manipulation by Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Gun-hee. The People Power Party, opposing the amendment that would extend and strengthen the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act, began a filibuster (unlimited debate).

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik convened the plenary session that day and introduced the amendment to the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act.

On the 20th, during the plenary session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, a bill concerning the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the alleged acts of rebellion, foreign exchange crimes, and government manipulation by Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Gun-hee was presented. As Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, began an unlimited debate (filibuster), members of the Democratic Party exited the plenary chamber. July 20, 2026 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Seo Young-kyo, chairperson of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee (a member of the Democratic Party), explained during the proposal remarks, "Due to limitations in the duration and personnel, the existing Comprehensive Special Prosecutor investigation has been unable to fully eradicate the remnants of rebellion attributed to Yoon Seok-yeol and government manipulation by Kim Gun-hee and others. It is for this reason that this amendment has been proposed." She added, "By expanding the scope of the investigation, extending the investigation period, and increasing the number of investigative personnel, we aim to enhance the effectiveness of the special prosecutor’s investigation."

The amendment also includes expanding the scope of the special prosecutor’s investigation to cover obstruction of audits, increasing the number of dispatched officials from the current maximum of 130 to up to 150, and extending the investigation period from the current one extension of 30 days to two extensions of 30 days each with presidential approval.

After the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act amendment was placed on the agenda, the People Power Party requested a filibuster. Accordingly, Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party took the podium as the first speaker. Assemblyman Yoon criticized, "It is not an exaggeration to say this country belongs to the Democratic Party and exists for the Democratic Party," adding, "Sovereignty in the Republic of Korea lies with the Democratic Party, and all power comes from the Democratic Party. Over the past year, Korea has become a country only for the Democratic Party." He went on to argue, "Now the special prosecutor has become a permanent investigative institution. How can this be a fair special prosecution? Fundamentally, it does not make sense."

During Assemblyman Yoon’s speech, the Democratic Party submitted a motion to bring the filibuster to a close. As a result, more than 24 hours after the filibuster began, a vote on the filibuster termination motion will be held after 2 p.m. on July 21. If the filibuster ends, the Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Act amendment will immediately proceed to a vote.

Meanwhile, Speaker Cho referred to the ruling and opposition parties' failure to reach an agreement on the composition of standing committees during the session and remarked, "The responsibility of the National Assembly to work for the people must never be halted for any reason; we must present the public with the image of a National Assembly that is fully working. As Speaker, I will patiently await agreement between the ruling and opposition parties until the very end. Once again, I earnestly appeal to both sides to reach an agreement."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.