The possibility of passing the Special Counsel Investigation Act on the death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun is gradually increasing. This is because a growing number of the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP) lawmakers and elected party members of the 22nd National Assembly expressed their support after the crushing defeat in the April 10 general election. As of April 15, two incumbent members and four recently-elected members of the National Assembly have expressed their support for the bill.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been ramping up pressure on the ruling camp and President Yoon Suk-yeol to pass the special counsel investigation act. At the first Supreme Council meeting after the general election, held at the National Assembly, DPK’s floor leader Hong Ihk-pyo said, "We will definitely keep our promise to pass the Special Counsel Investigation Act on the death of Marine Corporal Chae at the plenary session after the general election." Park Chan-dae, a supreme council member, also said, "The people vetoed the president who vetoed the bill through the general election, and if he tries to veto it again, it will only be a disaster." About 40 DPK incumbent and recently-elected lawmakers held a press conference at the National Assembly to call for the passage of the act. The DPK has set May 2 as the deadline for passing the special counsel investigation act.

The number of PPP members in favor of the bill is also growing. PPP’s recently-elected member Cho Kyung-tae said on MBC radio that "our party should make efforts to resolve public suspicions before the DPK does." PPP’s another elected member Kim Jae-seop said on YTN Radio that "I think the government and the ruling party need to look at it a little positively and then prospectively." Han Ji-ah, recently-elected member of the People Future Party also appeared on KBS radio and said, "I think we should follow the people's wishes." PPP’s Ahn Cheol-soo said on MBC radio on April 12 that he “plans to vote in favor of the bill.”

The possibility of passing the Special Counsel Investigation Act on the death of Marine Corporal Chae is gradually increasing as a growing number of PPP lawmakers are changing their minds. According to the composition of the 21st National Assembly, 181 out of 297 seats taken by opposition parties (142 from the DPK, 14 from the Minjoo Union, 6 from the Green Justice Party, 5 from the New Future Party, 4 from the New Reform Party, 1 from the Rebuilding Korea Party, 1 from the Progressive Party, and 8 from independents) are in favor of the act. There are 16 seats taken by the ruling camp (101 seats from the PPP, 13 from the People Future Party, 1 from the Liberal Unification Party, and 1 from an independent). If President Yoon exercises his veto power after passing the bill on May 2, the number of seats required for a re-vote is more than two-thirds of the lawmakers present.

Assuming all 297 lawmakers participate in the vote, 198 or more must vote in favor for the bill to pass. Currently, there are two incumbent PPP lawmakers who have expressed their approval for the bill. That leaves 15 members short for a re-vote. There is a possibility of additional PPP members to vote for the bill though they have not publicly expressed their support.

If the special counsel investigation act is finally repealed in the 21st National Assembly, the opposition parties say they will again pursue the bill in the 22nd National Assembly. In the new National Assembly, it is highly likely that the bill will pass. The opposition parties occupy 192 seats (161 from the DPK, 14 from the Minjoo Union, 12 from the Rebuilding Korea Party, 3 from the New Reform Party, 1 from the New Future Party and the Progressive Party, respectively). The ruling camp takes 108 seats (90 from the PPP and 18 from the People Future Party). If Ahn and Cho, who have expressed their intention to approve the special counsel investigation act, and Kim and Han are added, the number of seats in favor of the bill is 196. Only four seats within the ruling party are needed to pass the bill. "I also think that there is a possibility that the president will consider it prospectively,” Kim said.