Sangyong Park Appears at Supreme Prosecutors' Office Over 'Salmon Soju Party' Allegations: "It's Not True, Let Me Clarify"

"Plans to File a Lawsuit to Overturn Disciplinary Action"

Prosecutor Sangyong Park, who is under inspection over the so-called 'Salmon Soju Party' allegations raised during the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance investigation, visited the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 11th to request an opportunity to clarify his position before the inspection committee.

On the 11th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office held an Inspection Committee meeting to deliberate on whether to discipline Deputy Chief Prosecutor Sangyong Park of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who is alleged to have coerced testimony related to the 'Salmon Alcohol Party' during the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance investigation. Meanwhile, Prosecutor Park was waiting in the civil complaints office at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

It is understood that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office convened the inspection committee from the afternoon of the same day to deliberate on whether to impose disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park.

At around 1:50 p.m. that day, Prosecutor Park met with reporters in front of the civil complaints office and said, "I have not been notified at all about the nature or number of inspection charges. No matter the wrongdoing or disciplinary action, I believe disciplinary measures should not be taken based on a predetermined conclusion without any opportunity for procedural defense or clarification." He added, "I would like to have an opportunity to explain myself to the outside committee members, as if appealing to a public petition board."

Regarding the 'Salmon Soju Party' allegations, he stated, "Even the correctional officer who was right next to me was unaware of anything, and nothing of the sort happened. How could that be true? Using the results of a polygraph test, which has no evidentiary value, as grounds for disciplinary action is something that has never happened in the history of the prosecution and is not consistent with legal principles or facts."

He also said, "After the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection committee, the case will be referred to the Ministry of Justice, which also has an inspection committee, and ultimately, the disciplinary committee will decide on the disciplinary action. If disciplinary measures are finalized and I cannot accept the outcome, I intend to file an administrative lawsuit to overturn the decision."

The Human Rights Abuse Inspection Task Force (TF) of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, which has been investigating the 'Salmon Soju Party' allegations during the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance investigation, recently reported to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office that during the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office's questioning of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, alcohol was brought into the prosecutors' office.

Former Vice Governor Lee revealed that there was an attempt at inducement by Prosecutor Park, who was in charge of the investigation. The ruling party claims that through inducement, testimony was obtained from Lee to the effect that Lee Jae-myung, then leader of the Democratic Party, was involved in the North Korea remittance.

The TF reportedly based its judgment on the testimony of a prison inmate who claimed to have heard Lee say he had "drunk alcohol," as well as records showing that former Ssangbangwool director Park purchased soju with a corporate card at a convenience store.

However, former chairman Kim, who previously appeared as a witness at the National Assembly's parliamentary investigation, said, "I did not drink at all on May 17, the date in question." At the time, former Ssangbangwool director Park also denied the allegations, stating, "I bought the alcohol for personal consumption and drank it in the car."

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