Controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee are likely to top the agenda at the upcoming second meeting between the leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, observers said Sunday. People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung recently agreed to hold a second round of talks, following up on their first official meeting in early September.
The date for the second meeting, however, is yet to be announced. The agreement comes as the Democratic Party seeks to push for the passage of a bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegations including the ones that the first lady violated the country’s anti-graft law, and the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, at a National Assembly plenary session next month. The party previously put two similar bills to a vote, but both were scrapped in revotes after Yoon exercised his veto power.
"It is highly likely that the special counsel probe bill will be discussed at the upcoming meeting between Han and Lee," Rhee Jong-hoon, a political commentator said. "But Han won't agree to the version drafted and floated by the Democratic Party, he is likely to discuss his own solution to the controversies surrounding the first lady," he added. Han has recently called for appointing an independent inspector general tasked with investigating corruption accusations made against the president's family.
The independent inspector general position was estab.