Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Democratic Party Pushes Judicial Overhaul, Moves to Propose Unification Church and Combined Special Counsel Bills

Leaders cite accountability goals as their majority lets them shut down filibusters.

Overview

  • The party chief, Jung Chung-rae, said the DP will press ahead with bills to punish officials who distort the law, enable Constitutional Court review of Supreme Court rulings, and expand the Supreme Court bench.
  • Jung announced a second-round special counsel combining probes tied to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid, allegations involving Kim Keon Hee, and a Marine’s death, pledging to file it as the first bill next year.
  • A separate special counsel bill on alleged Unification Church political donations was set to be introduced later on Dec. 26, with the DP framing the issue as a constitutional bar on religion–politics collusion.
  • Talks on how to select a special prosecutor remain stalled, with the PPP and Reform Party backing National Court Administration nominees and the DP urging party-based nominations or other alternatives.
  • Lawmakers also passed a media-liability revision allowing punitive damages of up to five times for online ‘fake news,’ drawing veto calls from civic groups and opposition figures who warn of free-speech risks.