Seoul: The ruling People Power Party (PPP) announced on Tuesday its intention to request acting President Choi Sang-mok to veto a bill which mandates a special counsel investigation into allegations concerning an influence-peddling scandal involving the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. This decision comes a day after a parliamentary judiciary subcommittee approved the bill, despite the ruling party lawmakers' opposition.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the controversy centers around allegations that Myung Tae-kyun, who claims to be a power broker, received approximately 76 million won (US$53,280) from former ruling party lawmaker Rep. Kim Young-sun. The payment was purportedly in exchange for aiding her nomination for the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Myung allegedly secured Kim's nomination by conducting public opinion polls that were favorable to Yoon ahead of the 2022 presidential election.
The special counsel's investigation is set to examine claims that both Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee were implicated in the nomination processes of the 2022 local elections and by-elections, as well as the parliamentary elections last year.
In addition to the special counsel bill, the PPP intends to ask the acting president to veto the Commercial Act amendment. The amendment proposes to extend directors' duty to act in good faith from exclusively serving the "company" to encompassing both the "company and its shareholders." The PPP contends that this revision could introduce uncertainty in business operations and result in increased legal costs.
If the bills pass the plenary session on Thursday, Choi will be allotted 15 days to decide whether to enact them or request the National Assembly to reconsider them.