[News Today] Spar over 2nd special counsel bill

[LEAD]
A second, sweeping special counsel bill led by the Democratic Party has been submitted to the plenary session. It would deploy up to 250 investigators for as long as 170 days to further probe insurrection and treason allegations. Despite opposition parties pushing back, a vote on the second special counsel bill is currently underway.

[REPORT]
Immediately after the parliament passed eleven non contentious bills on public livelihood.

A bill, led by the Democratic Party, to establish a second special prosecutor was submitted to the plenary session.

This comes 18 days after three previous special counsel probes concluded their activity.

Lee Sung-yoon / Democratic Party
The second bill will investigate areas requiring a follow-up from the probes, additional acts of crime that have come to light.

Under the new bill, as many as 251 investigators will look into 17 allegations for a maximum period of 170 days.

This includes allegations addressed by the previous probes as well as those surrounding a notebook containing martial law plans penned by former Army Defense Intelligence Commander Noh Sang‑won and charges of treason that former President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to incite an attack by North Korea.

The second counsel probe is expected to continue through the time of the June local elections.

The ruling Democratic Party reiterated the probe is aimed at completely rooting out insurrection.

Jung Chung-rae / Chair, Democratic Party
War against insurrection has not ended. A comprehensive probe will tackle allegations left unaddressed.

In the opposition camp, the People Power Party and Reform Party joined forces.

Reform Party floor leader Chun Ha-ram was the first to take the floor in a filibuster.

Chun Ha-ram / Floor leader, Reform Party
A special prosecutor system should first be applied to standing up against those currently in power.

Meanwhile PPP chairman Jang Dong-hyeok has begun a hunger strike

He said the additional probe is a bid to gain the upper hand in the June elections and vowed to continue the strike until special counsel probes into the ruling party's political money scandal and alleged ties to the Unification Church are accepted.

Jang Dong-hyeok / Chair, People Power Party
Irregularities don't go away by covering them up. We need to inform the DP's viciousness and join hands with the people.

On Friday, the Democratic Party ended the filibuster 24 hours after it started, and a vote on the second special counsel bill is underway.

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