Seoul: The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) have reached an agreement to establish a parliamentary task force to investigate the Jeju Air plane crash that resulted in the tragic loss of 179 lives. This decision was made during a meeting between the deputy floor leaders of both parties, PPP Rep. Park Hyeung-soo and DP Rep. Park Sung-joon. The DP indicated that the task force is expected to be formed within the week.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two parties remain at odds regarding the timing of a parliamentary plenary session to address six controversial bills and two special counsel bills. These bills are related to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid and allegations concerning the first lady. The DP has proposed holding the session on Tuesday to proceed with the revote, followed by additional plenary sessions on Wednesday and Thursday to tackle the economic repercussions of Yoon’s martial law imposition and the aftermath of the plane crash.
In contrast, the PPP has suggested scheduling the revote for Thursday, proposing that discussions regarding the plane crash be deferred to the upcoming interpellation session next month. One of the significant contentious issues is the Grain Management Act, which requires governmental purchase of surplus rice to stabilize prices during market fluctuations. A similar bill had been vetoed by Yoon in March 2023 and was subsequently scrapped in a revote.
Last month, the Cabinet urged the National Assembly to reconsider the special counsel probe bill concerning Yoon, which calls for appointing special prosecutors to investigate insurrection charges linked to Yoon’s brief martial law imposition. Additionally, another bill mandates a special counsel probe into two major allegations involving the first lady, focusing on her alleged participation in a stock manipulation scheme and interference in election nominations through a power broker.