(LEAD) Opposition unilaterally passes bill targeting first lady despite PPP boycott

The main opposition Democratic Party unilaterally passed three contentious bills Thursday, including one calling for a special investigation into allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, despite fierce opposition from the ruling party. Lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) refused to attend Thursday's parliamentary plenary session in boycott of the vote and held a rally in front of the main hall condemning the opposition's move. PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said the PPP will request President Yoon Suk Yeol exercise his veto power against the bills, as the long-running cycle has repeated over and over again of the opposition-controlled National Assembly unilaterally passing contentious legislation and Yoon rejecting it. The special counsel bill, which passed in a 167-0 vote, calls for an independent probe into Kim's stock manipulation allegations, as well as her receipt of a luxury bag and her alleged interference with the ruling party's candidate nominations ahead of the April 10 genera l elections. A similar special probe bill targeting the first lady passed through the Assembly but was vetoed by Yoon in January and was later scrapped in a revote. Source: Yonhap News Agency