Supreme Prosecutors' Office Requests Heavy Suspension for Prosecutor Sangyong Park over Rule Violations Including Coercing Confessions

It has been reported that on May 12, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office requested a heavy disciplinary action, specifically suspension, against Deputy Chief Prosecutor Sangyong Park of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who is under suspicion of attempting to influence testimonies related to the ‘Salmon Drinking Party’ during the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance investigation.

According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Acting Prosecutor General Jahyun Koo, after reviewing the results of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee meeting held on this day, requested disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park to the Minister of Justice. In a public statement, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained, “After confirming misconduct that violated regulations related to investigation procedures, we submitted a disciplinary request for Prosecutor Park on May 12 following the review by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee.”

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee reportedly determined the level of disciplinary action to be “suspension.” Under the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act, disciplinary actions for prosecutors include dismissal, removal, suspension, pay reduction, and reprimand. Of these, suspension is a heavy disciplinary measure that suspends a prosecutor from performing duties for a period of one month to six months, during which time no salary is paid.

Prosecutor Park is facing what is known as the “Salmon Drinking Party” allegation. This refers to the claim that on May 17, 2023, during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case, Prosecutor Park and other members of the investigation team provided salmon and alcohol to suspects including former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young and former Ssangbangwool Chairman Kim Seong-tae, and induced them to make statements unfavorable to then-Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung.

Regarding this, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office cited as grounds for disciplinary action the following: Prosecutor Park inappropriately demanded a confession through defense counsel by referencing another case; he failed to prepare an investigation process confirmation document despite having questioned a detainee; and he provided food or facilitated meetings without legitimate reasons.

However, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office did not request disciplinary action for failure to prevent the bringing in and serving of alcohol due to lack of supervision, or for repeatedly summoning unnecessary witnesses, in respect of the decision by the Inspection Committee. The Inspection Committee previously determined that Prosecutor Park was not aware of the fact that salmon and alcohol were brought into the interrogation room, and that the responsibility for controlling the entry of outside food rested with the correctional officers, not the prosecutors.

Prosecutor Park denies the allegations. On May 11, at around 1:50 p.m. in front of the complaint office of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Prosecutor Park told reporters, “I have not been informed at all about what the inspection allegations are or how many there are,” adding, “No matter how serious the wrongdoing or the need for discipline, disciplinary action should not be taken based on a predetermined conclusion without giving any chance for procedural defense or opportunity to explain.” He further stated, “I would like to have an opportunity to explain myself to the external committee members as if appealing to a public grievance board.”

He also said, “After the review by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee, the case will be sent to the Ministry of Justice, where there is also an Inspection Committee and a Disciplinary Committee that will make the final decision on disciplinary action. If the final disciplinary decision is made and I cannot accept its content, I intend to file a lawsuit for cancellation.”