Rival South Korean Parties Strike Surprise Deal on Unification Church Special Counsel

South Korea's rival political parties have reached a surprise agreement to appoint a special counsel to investigate a major scandal involving the Unification Church. The probe follows public pressure and could implicate high-profile figures from both parties.

South Korea's bitterly divided political landscape is heading into a turbulent new phase after the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) abruptly reversed its position and agreed to launch a special counsel investigation into a wide-ranging scandal involving the Unification Church. The move, long demanded by the ruling People Power Party (PPP), sets the stage for a high-stakes probe that could implicate figures from both sides of the aisle.

At a party leadership meeting, DP leader Jung Chung-rae announced the shift, stating there was "no reason not to accept it." The PPP and the presidential office immediately welcomed the decision, vowing to accelerate discussions on the special counsel bill. The DP's change of heart appears to have been triggered by a recent agreement between the PPP and the smaller Rebuilding Korea Party on a neutral, third-party recommendation method for selecting the prosecutor, creating a new point of convergence.

The decision wasn't made in a vacuum. Public opinion has heavily favored an independent investigation. According to a recent Gallup Korea poll, 62 percent of respondents said a special counsel was necessary. Crucially for the DP, that number rose to 67 percent among its own supporters. Furthermore, existing investigations have been criticized as ineffective. A previous special counsel team was accused of delaying its probe until statutes of limitations neared, and ongoing police inquiries are seen as inherently limited in handling a case so politically entangled with both major parties.

The allegations cut across party lines. It has emerged that Kim Keon Hee, the First Lady, allegedly received a diamond necklace and a luxury handbag from figures linked to the Unification Church. The scandal also includes allegations that PPP Rep. Kweon Seong-dong accepted 100 million won ($68,000) in illegal political funds. However, the probe's scope expanded when testimony surfaced that a church official also delivered tens of millions of won and a luxury watch to DP Rep. Chun Jae-soo, implicating opposition figures as well.

Despite the agreement, both parties are already jockeying for control. The DP stated it was willing to "clearly uncover the truth, including any PPP figures involved." In response, the PPP warned that "the public will not tolerate a special counsel used solely to pressure the opposition." This exchange reveals the deep mistrust and strategic calculations simmering beneath the surface of the deal.

PRISM Insight: For global observers, this special counsel is more than just another political battle in Seoul; it’s a critical test of South Korea's institutional ability to police itself. Scandals that implicate both ruling and opposition parties are notoriously difficult to investigate through normal channels. If this independent probe can operate impartially and deliver credible findings, it will be a powerful statement about the resilience of the rule of law in one of Asia's most dynamic democracies. Failure, however, risks deepening public cynicism and could paralyze the political process.

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