Seoul: The National Assembly has passed a special counsel bill aimed at investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol over charges related to an attempted insurrection involving a failed martial law declaration. This bill secured approval through a 194-3 vote with one abstention during a plenary session dominated by the ruling Democratic Party (DP).

According to Yonhap News Agency, the session also saw the passage of two additional special counsel bills. One targets former first lady Kim Keon Hee over allegations of stock price manipulation and receiving a luxury bag. The specific bill concerning Yoon empowers a permanent special counsel to investigate 11 charges, including insurrection and military mutiny, linked to Yoon's unsuccessful martial law attempt in December.

The bill concerning Yoon had previously been vetoed and discarded twice, but it was reintroduced with an expanded scope, increasing the charges from six to 11. Another significant bill passed aims to investigate allegations of inappropriate interference by the presidential office and the defense ministry in the military's inquiry into a Marine's death during a search mission in July 2023.

Additionally, the National Assembly passed a separate bill empowering the justice minister, alongside the prosecutor general, to request disciplinary action against prosecutors directly. However, most of the lawmakers from the People Power Party (PPP) abstained from voting, protesting the DP's decision to advance bills without bipartisan agreement.