Seoul: A bill calling for a second round of special counsel probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition and allegations surrounding his wife was introduced at the National Assembly on Thursday. The proposed legislation aims to reopen investigations into Yoon, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, and the 2023 death of a Marine, tackling 17 allegations that were not fully addressed by the three previous counsels.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the bill was brought to the floor at a plenary session earlier in the day and is expected to be put to a vote on Friday. The ruling Democratic Party (DP), which currently holds a parliamentary majority with 163 out of 296 seats, intends to pass the bill once the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s filibuster concludes.

The initiative for a new probe is likely to intensify bipartisan tensions ahead of the local elections in June. The PPP has criticized the DP's efforts as politically driven, while the DP is advocating for closure regarding the consequences of Yoon's martial law. In response to these proceedings, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok initiated a hunger strike shortly after the plenary session commenced, urging the DP to consider opposition-backed special probe bills related to an alleged bribery scandal involving the Unification Church.