Seoul High Prosecutors' TF Concludes "Lee Hwa-young's Salmon Drinking Gathering Took Place"... Park Sangyong Protests

The Human Rights Infringement Inspection Task Force (TF) of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, which has been investigating the so-called "salmon drinking party" allegations raised during the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance investigation, has reportedly concluded that a drinking gathering did take place at the time of the investigation.

Prosecutor Sangyong Park, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, is being forcibly removed during a hearing held on April 14, 2026, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, by the Special Committee on the Investigation of the Alleged Fabrication and Indictment by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration's Political Prosecution, while being asked to verbally explain the reason for refusing to take the witness oath. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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According to legal sources on May 6, the TF recently reported to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office that, during the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office's investigation of former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young, alcoholic beverages were brought into the prosecution office.

The TF is said to have based its judgment on multiple pieces of evidence, including testimony from a prison inmate who claimed to have heard former Vice Governor Lee say he had "drunk alcohol," and records showing that former Ssangbangwool director Park purchased soju with a corporate card at a convenience store.

Additionally, it was reported that the TF took into account the recording of a phone call between Prosecutor Sangyong Park and attorney Minseok Seo, who was formerly Lee's legal counsel, as well as the results of a lie detector test administered to Lee.

Former Vice Governor Lee alleged that Prosecutor Sangyong Park, who was in charge of the investigation, attempted to induce him, but Prosecutor Park has consistently denied these allegations.

Previously, the TF sought an arrest warrant for former director Park on charges of obstructing official duties by deception, after it was found that he had brought soju into the prosecution's interrogation room. However, the court dismissed the request. Last month, Park appeared as a witness at the "Special Committee on the Truth Investigation of Alleged Political Prosecution Fabrication Cases under the Yoon Seok-Yeol Administration" hearing at the National Assembly and stated, "I bought the alcohol for personal consumption and drank it in the car," adding, "I am heartbroken because I believe this incident was caused by my own immoral actions."

As the disciplinary statute of limitations for Prosecutor Sangyong Park is set to expire on May 17, acting Prosecutor General Jaehyeon Koo is expected to review the TF's inspection results and decide whether to file for disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park.

Meanwhile, Prosecutor Park posted on his Facebook page on May 4, expressing his discontent by stating, "In the end, it seems they have reached a conclusion about the 'salmon drinking party' without even investigating me."

He further argued, "It has already been four months since I pleaded with them not to conduct any separate investigation but to look into the 'salmon drinking party.' Since then, I have not been notified of any charges, nor have I received a summons."

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