South Korea’s Presidential Office: Special Prosecutor Appointment Pending Bipartisan Agreement
Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean Presidential Office has stated its willingness toappoint a special prosecutor to investigate controversies surrounding First Lady Kim Keon-hee, but only if both the ruling and opposition parties agree on a candidate.
This statement comes in response to Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), who announced his intention to initiate the process of recommending aspecial prosecutor to address the ongoing controversies surrounding the First Lady.
A spokesperson from the Presidential Office reiterated the government’s stance, stating that, As we have repeatedly stated, the Presidential Office will appoint a special prosecutor if both the rulingand opposition parties reach a consensus on a candidate.
The spokesperson further emphasized that the issue of recommending a special prosecutor and the appointment of a board member for the North Korean Human Rights Foundation should be addressed separately, and that the internal discussionswithin the ruling party regarding this matter are ongoing.
However, the current leadership within the PPP’s parliamentary negotiating group favors linking these two issues, making it unclear whether a bipartisan agreement can be reached.
The appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the First Lady has been a contentious issue, with the opposition Democratic Partycalling for a thorough investigation into allegations of academic misconduct and financial irregularities. The ruling party, however, has maintained that the allegations are politically motivated and has resisted calls for a special prosecutor.
This latest development suggests that the Presidential Office is open to a compromise, but only if both sides can agree on a candidate. The outcome ofthis negotiation will have significant implications for the ongoing political landscape in South Korea.
References:
- Yonhap News Agency. (2024, October 23). Presidential Office: Special Prosecutor Appointment Pending Bipartisan Agreement. Retrieved from [link to original article]
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