South Korea's National Assembly deadlock over special investigation extension

The ruling Democratic Party has moved to pass a bill extending the second comprehensive special investigation into alleged wrongdoing by former president Yoon Suk‑yeol, his wife Kim Keon‑hee and related figures. The bill would lengthen the investigation period, increase staff and appoint a dedicated prosecutor. The opposition People Power Party has vowed to block the proposal with a filibuster and has boycotted talks on reconstituting the parliament’s standing committees, refusing to accept the Democratic allocation of committee chairmanships.

On 20 July the Assembly’s operating committee approved convening a plenary session to consider the amendment, but People Power members were absent. Democratic leader Han Bang‑do (Han Byeong‑do) framed the vote as urgent, while People Power leader Jeong Jeom‑sik denounced the move as political persecution and a “judicial police‑state.” The stalemate has halted progress on committee chair assignments and other parliamentary business, raising concerns that legislative work and oversight functions are being stalled.