Seoul: The leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) began a hunger strike Thursday, demanding the ruling Democratic Party (DP) accept special probe bills on an alleged bribery scandal involving the Unification Church and alleged bribery linked to election nominations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the move came as the rival parties clashed during a parliamentary session this day over a separate bill mandating a second round of special counsel investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law, corruption allegations surrounding his wife, and the death of a Marine. PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok claimed that the DP was rejecting the opposition-led bills "out of fear" that the investigation could reveal a series of corruption cases involving key political figures from DP leader Jung Chung-rae to senior officials at Cheong Wa Dae.

"The truth does not disappear by covering it up," Jang stated. "The PPP will fight together with the minor Reform Party to push for the passage of the bills on the Unification Church and nomination bribery allegations."

In response, PPP lawmakers staged a rally at the National Assembly and announced plans to launch a filibuster at the plenary session to block the DP-backed bill calling for a second round of special counsel investigations. The conservative PPP has been advocating for a comprehensive investigation into allegations that DP officials received illegal money from the Unification Church.