Democratic Party Adopts 'Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Indictments' as Party Position, Seeks Nov. 5 Plenary Session Agenda

Cho Hee-dae Probe Report on Nov. 5 Put on Hold... Party to Gather More Views

Request to Pass Democratic Meritorious Persons Act, Urban Redevelopment Act and Other Bills

Kim Minseok Apologizes, Saying There Is No Evidence of a "Secret Three-Way Alliance"

The Democratic Party of Korea adopted the “Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Indictments” as its official party position on Nov. 3 and decided to seek its placement on the agenda for the National Assembly plenary session on Nov. 5. A planned report to the plenary session on a parliamentary probe into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae was postponed as the party decided to gather further views from its members.

Kim Seonghoe, the Democratic Party’s floor spokesperson, told reporters after a party caucus at the National Assembly on Nov. 3, “We adopted the Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Indictments as our official party position today,” adding, “We plan to consult with others to bring it before the plenary session on Nov. 5.”

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Donghae = Kim Minseok (bottom left), leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and lawmaker Jung Cheongrae (top right) listen to floor leader Han Byeongdo speaking at a general meeting of lawmakers at the National Assembly on the 3rd. 2026.11.3 eastsea@yna.co.kr (END)

Kim said all lawmakers had agreed with adopting the bill as the party’s official position, with no significant objections. Some provisions in the original bill will be revised by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee’s bill review subcommittee. “The subcommittee will make some revisions to the existing bill,” he said, predicting there would be no major changes to its overall framework.

Regarding a parliamentary probe into Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, Kim said, “Several lawmakers shared a range of views at the caucus, so we decided that the floor leadership would undertake a process to gather further opinions.” Asked whether the matter would be reported to the plenary session, he said, “Since gathering opinions is expected to take time, I understand that we decided not to bring it before the plenary session on Nov. 5.”

The Democratic Party also decided to ask the National Assembly speaker to put the Democratic Meritorious Persons Act, the Urban Redevelopment Act, the Urban Renewal Promotion Act and the Yongsan Park Special Act before the plenary session this week, and to consult with the People Power Party. It will also seek plenary approval of resolutions calling for the expulsion of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Taegyu and condemning North Korea’s provocation involving land mines.

At the caucus on Nov. 3, a report on the findings of an investigation into allegations of mass membership applications by Shincheonji members was canceled, as Democratic Party leader Kim Minseok personally addressed the matter. “I do not believe anyone in our party knowingly led such activities as Shincheonji went about its business. The investigation found no evidence of a secret three-way alliance,” he said. “I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been harmed unintentionally.”

“The party leader was overcome with emotion as he spoke and offered a heartfelt apology,” Kim said. “The lawmakers applauded, saying the decision was the right one, and we concluded the matter without presenting the report.”

The party decided not to publicly announce the investigation’s findings. The Supreme Council will discuss how to handle them going forward, including whether to allow members to review them confidentially. Kim said no lawmakers had called for a request for an investigation into Shincheonji.

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