Assembly starts extra session to work on Sewol probe law

The National Assembly began a month-long extra session yesterday with the two major parties scrambling to find common ground to pass the so-called special law on investigating the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry in April.

During the extra session, which will last through August 20, the ruling Saenuri and the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy are expected to reach an agreement on the contentious special law, under which a special fact-finding committee on the sinking of the Sewol ferry will be established.

One of the most contested issues is whether to empower the probe body with the authority to investigate and indict people implicated in wrongdoings. While the NPAD endorses such empowerment, the Saenuri rejects it, saying it would undermine normal law enforcement procedures.

An association of relatives of the Sewol victims supports the NPAD’s proposal.