Ssangbangwool Remittance Investigation Team: "Disciplining Prosecutor Sangyong Park Could Be Exploited as a Pretext for Indictment Cancellation"

Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office TF Concludes “There Was a Salmon Drinking Party”
Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to Soon Begin Disciplinary Process Against Park Sangyong
Investigation Team Says “Disciplinary Attempt Must Be Halted”

The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation team, which previously handled the Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea case, has criticized the move to discipline Prosecutor Sangyong Park, stating, "Any attempt to discipline Park could be misused as a pretext to cancel the indictment."

Prosecutor Sangyong Park appeared at the hearing of the "Special Committee for a National Assembly Investigation into Allegations of Political Prosecution and Fabricated Indictments by the Yoon Seok-youl Administration" held at the National Assembly on the 14th, refused to take the witness oath, and left, waiting outside the meeting room. 2026.4.14 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

In a statement released on May 7, former Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Chief Seungwook Hong, former Deputy Chief Prosecutor Youngil Kim, and former Chief of the Criminal Division 6 Youngnam Kim expressed their deep concern about the situation, saying, "We are gravely concerned that the foundation of the rule of law is being shaken with respect to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection deliberation regarding Prosecutor Park."

The Human Rights Violation Task Force (TF) of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, which has been investigating the so-called "salmon drinking party" allegations that arose during the Ssangbangwool remittance investigation, recently reported to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office the results of its inspection. The report stated that alcohol was brought into the prosecution office during the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office’s investigation of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Hwa-young Lee.

Former Vice Governor Lee claimed that Prosecutor Sangyong Park, who was in charge of the investigation, attempted to persuade him, but Prosecutor Park has consistently denied the allegations. The disciplinary statute of limitations expires on May 17.

The investigation team called this a "retaliatory disciplinary procedure" and demanded its immediate halt. "We strongly urge an end to any retaliatory disciplinary action designed to scapegoat a frontline prosecutor for conducting an investigation that did not align with certain political interests," the team said. "We call for an immediate stop to all acts that undermine the constitutional order and erode the judicial system for the benefit of specific individuals."

They further emphasized, "There are growing concerns that this attempt at disciplinary action could be exploited as a political justification for future indictment cancellations or pardons. We appeal to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee to make a fair and wise decision that upholds prosecutorial independence and judicial justice, without being swayed by political pressure."

The investigation team also objected to the "manipulative indictment allegations." They stated, "This case went through approximately 70 trial dates over two years and seven months, enduring intense legal battles and resulting in a final Supreme Court decision. Distorting the truth through a few days of a National Assembly investigation or hearing, while ignoring the facts established in court, is a violation of the principle of separation of powers."

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