Prosecutor Park Sang-yong [Yonhap News file photo]

It has been confirmed that the Second Special Counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating allegations remaining after the third special counsel probe, has lifted the travel ban on Prosecutor Park Sang-yong in relation to the alleged "presidential office interference in the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office investigation."

On the 7th, Prosecutor Park stated on Facebook, "Upon checking today, I found that the travel ban against me has been lifted," adding, "Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young must take responsibility for spreading rumors of a 'massive state-affairs manipulation' and violating human rights through the abuse of travel bans."

He questioned the special counsel team, saying, "For three months, they did not conduct a single investigation or inquiry regarding me," and asked, "At the time of the April 7th public announcement where you mentioned a 'massive state-affairs manipulation,' was there even a single substantial clue suggesting that the Yoon Suk Yeol presidential office intervened to fabricate the North Korea remittance case?"

Previously, Assistant Special Counsel Kwon Young-bin stated in a briefing on April 7, "We have confirmed attempts by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's presidential office to intervene in the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case early last month," adding, "The special counsel team views this as a case suspected of being a massive state-affairs manipulation by state power."

The special counsel team had placed travel bans on Prosecutor Park, who had been investigating the North Korea remittance case since April, as well as then-Minister of Justice and current independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, and former Prosecutor General Lee One-seok.

However, the special counsel team did not conduct any investigations of suspects or witnesses related to the case for the following three months.

Controversy over fairness arose after it was revealed that Assistant Special Counsel Kwon had previously served as legal counsel for former Gyeonggi Province Peace Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young and former Ssangbangwool Vice Chairman Bang Yong-chul, leading to the replacement of the assistant special counsel in charge with Kim Chi-heon.

It is reported that the special counsel team internally concluded that proceeding with the investigation would be difficult.

The special counsel team, which had only been extending the travel bans on Prosecutor Park, lawmaker Han, and others, did not extend the travel ban on Prosecutor Park, which expired the previous day.

The travel ban on lawmaker Han Dong-hoon remains in effect until the 12th.