Special Investigation on Martial Law Summons Former Justice Minister Park Sungjae Over Alleged Prosecutor Dispatch to Joint Investigation Headquarters

Park Suspected of Instructing Ministry of Justice's Departure Ban Team and Corrections Headquarters After Martial Law Declaration
Special Prosecutor: "Applied for Court Permission to Broadcast First Trial and Bail Hearing of Additional Indictment Against Yoon"

Sungjae Park, Minister of Justice, is delivering a farewell speech at the Ministry of Justice in the Government Complex Gwacheon on June 5. Photo by Yonhap News

The Special Investigation Team on the State of Emergency (Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) has summoned former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae in connection with allegations that he ordered the dispatch of prosecutors during the period of martial law.

The special investigation team began questioning former Minister Park as a suspect from around 10 a.m. on the 24th. After the declaration of martial law, Park returned to the Ministry of Justice and convened a meeting of senior officials. He is suspected of instructing the Prosecutors’ Bureau at that meeting to “consider dispatching prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters.”

Additionally, on December 3 of last year, the day martial law was declared, Park reportedly had three phone calls with former Prosecutor General Shim Woojeong between 11 p.m. and the early morning hours of the following day. The special investigation team suspects that Park also instructed Shim to dispatch prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters.

Park is also accused of instructing the Immigration Office of the Ministry of Justice on the day martial law was declared to keep a departure ban team on standby. It has been confirmed that on the night martial law was declared, the Immigration Control Team, which is responsible for entry and exit bans as well as counter-terrorism work related to immigration, reported to the Ministry of Justice. Furthermore, Park is suspected of ordering the Corrections Headquarters to check detention capacity and secure space to accommodate politicians and others after the declaration of martial law.

However, Park has denied all the allegations. He claims that the meeting of senior officials at the Ministry of Justice was held to discuss response measures following the declaration of martial law, and that his instruction regarding the dispatch of prosecutors was a general directive to assess whether personnel would be needed if a Joint Investigation Headquarters was established, not an order for immediate dispatch. He also insists that he did not instruct Shim to dispatch prosecutors during their phone calls.

Meanwhile, the special investigation team has applied to the court for permission to broadcast the first trial and bail hearing in the case against former President Yoon.

Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung stated at a regular briefing that “this morning, the special prosecutor applied to the Seoul Central District Court for permission to broadcast the first trial date and bail hearing in the case against former President Yoon,” adding, “The application was made in full consideration of the public’s right to know, based on Article 11, Paragraph 4 of the previous Special Act on Martial Law Investigations.”

She further explained, “The requested broadcast period is from the start to the end of the first trial date and bail hearing,” and added, “We have requested that real-time broadcasting be permitted, allowing entry to the courtroom for live coverage, which is different from simply allowing courtroom photography.”

The 35th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Baek Daehyun) is scheduled to hold the first trial and bail hearing for former President Yoon on charges including obstruction of official duties by special public officials and abuse of authority on the 26th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.