Rep. Park Chan-dae, aligned with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), delivers an acceptance speech following his election as the new DPK floor leader at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 3. Yonhap

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) could consider introducing special counsel probes to ensure the legality of ongoing investigations targeting opposition figures, the party's floor leader said Tuesday.

Rep. Park Chan-dae made the remarks in a written interview with Yonhap News Agency amid claims of prosecutorial manipulation in a probe into allegations that former Gyeonggi Province Vice Gov. Lee Hwa-young accepted bribes from Ssangbangul Group and participated in an unauthorized remittance case to North Korea.

He also pointed to another investigation involving the daughter of disgraced former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who was indicted on charges, including document forgery and obstruction of business.

"The prosecutors' investigation is rife with illegal acts and procedural violations," Park said. "Ultimately, the National Assembly has to play its role."

On a bill that recently passed the National Assembly mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to a Marine's death last year, Park warned that Yoon will "witness an explosion of public anger" if he vetoes it.

He also stressed that an independent counsel investigation into the allegation of stock price manipulation involving first lady Kim Keon Hee is "essential" for a fair investigation.

The top prosecutor on Tuesday pledged a "speedy and strict" investigation into allegations that the first lady illegally received a luxury bag as a gift in 2022. Park earlier accused the prosecutor of speeding up the investigation as a way of quelling public sentiment to avoid a special counsel investigation.

He then called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to clarify his stance on special counsel investigations into both the Marine's death and the first lady during an upcoming press conference marking his second year in office.

Park, who is seen as being closely aligned with Lee, was elected as the DPK's new floor leader Friday.

Park earlier reaffirmed the party's stance to resubmit eight bills that Yoon has vetoed, including two special investigation bills — one of which involves the first lady. (Yonhap)