On the 11th, as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is scheduled to hold an inspection committee meeting to deliberate on whether to discipline Prosecutor Park Sang-yong of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, against whom allegations of coaxing testimony arose during the Ssangbangul North Korea remittance investigation, Park is seen entering the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Civil Affairs Office in Seocho-dong to wait and answer questions from reporters. [Yonhap News]

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection committee was convened on the 11th to discuss whether to discipline Prosecutor Park Sang-yong of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who is facing allegations of coaxing testimony regarding a "salmon and alcohol party" during the Ssangbangul North Korea remittance investigation.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office began deliberations on whether to discipline Prosecutor Park from the afternoon of the same day.

The alleged offenses under review include: ▲ bringing alcohol into the investigation room ▲ recorded phone calls released by lawyer Seo Min-seok ▲ repeated summons ▲ insufficient documentation of records ▲ consumption of outside food, among others.

Prosecutor Park, after waiting for about three hours at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Civil Affairs Office to be given an opportunity to explain himself, was granted a chance to appear before the inspection committee around 5 PM.

He emerged at around 6:17 PM after completing his explanation, stating, "I have faithfully explained the parts that differ from the facts," and added, "They mentioned they thoroughly reviewed the submitted opinion papers, which makes me feel I received substantial procedural guarantees."

Prosecutor Park emphasized, "The inspection committee informed me of the charges for the first time today. They told me what charges were problematic, and I have fully explained them. I feel indebted to the committee members for providing me with the opportunity to explain myself, and I have even thought that I must repay their kindness by living faithfully, regardless of the conclusion reached."

Previously, when requested to appear before the inspection committee, Prosecutor Park told reporters, "I have not been notified at all of what the inspection charges are or how many there are," and stated, "I would like the opportunity to explain myself to the external committee members with the feeling of banging on a drum of grievance."

He argued, "Regarding the salmon and alcohol party, even the correctional officers standing right next to them were unaware. How can it be true if such an incident did not occur? The very act of disciplining based on the results of a polygraph test, which lacks evidential value, has never happened in the history of the prosecution and does not align with legal principles or the facts."

He also stated, "If a disciplinary action is ultimately imposed and I cannot accept its content, I plan to file a lawsuit for annulment."

Prosecutor Park also submitted a 50-page opinion paper to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 7th.

Hong Seung-wook, former chief prosecutor of the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, who supervised the North Korea remittance investigation, also issued a statement on the same day, earnestly appealing, "I implore the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection committee to make a fair and prudent judgment without being swayed by political external influences."

He added, "A precedent should not be set where a junior prosecutor, who faithfully fulfilled their duties with a sense of duty, becomes the target of an inspection and disciplinary action simply because they produced investigative results that are not favored."

Prosecutor Park is accused of attempting to elicit testimony from defendants such as Lee Hwa-young, former Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Kim Sung-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangul, on May 17, 2023, while investigating the Ssangbangul North Korea remittance case at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, by providing them with salmon and alcohol and subsequently pressuring them to give statements implying that Lee Jae-myung, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was involved in the North Korea remittance.

In relation to this, lawyer Seo Min-seok, who was the lawyer for former Vice Governor Lee, also raised suspicions of attempted coaxing and manipulation of testimony by releasing a recorded phone call with Prosecutor Park.

Furthermore, Prosecutor Park has been criticized for repeatedly summoning and investigating defendants such as the former Vice Governor and former Chairman Kim, and for failing to properly draft investigation confirmation documents.

The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office Human Rights Infringement Inspection Task Force (TF), which had been investigating these allegations, concluded that the alcohol incident had occurred and reported this to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

It is understood that this conclusion was based on evidence such as corporate card payment records for soju purchased by a former Ssangbangul executive, Mr. Park, at a nearby convenience store, and the results of a polygraph test conducted on former Vice Governor Lee, which showed a truthful response.

However, former Chairman Kim denied having drunk alcohol when he appeared as a witness at a parliamentary audit.

The former Ssangbangul executive, Mr. Park, who was identified as the person who purchased alcohol at the convenience store at the time, also denied the allegations of drinking, stating, "I bought it for my personal consumption and drank it in my car."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection committee's decision on whether to discipline Prosecutor Park and the severity of the discipline are recommendations, and the Prosecutor General is not obligated to follow them. However, in most cases to date, the Prosecutor General has respected the inspection committee's opinions in determining disciplinary measures.

It is anticipated that Goo Ja-hyun, acting Prosecutor General, will decide whether to request disciplinary action from the Ministry of Justice before the disciplinary statute of limitations for Prosecutor Park expires on the 17th.

If the acting Prosecutor General requests disciplinary action from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Justice's inspection committee may further deliberate on whether to impose discipline, or the Ministry of Justice's disciplinary committee may directly decide on the discipline.

Prosecutor disciplinary actions consist of five levels: reprimand, reduction of salary, suspension, dismissal, and removal from office. The execution of any discipline, except for the weakest, reprimand, is carried out by the President, who is the appointing authority, upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice.

If a judge or prosecutor is dismissed due to disciplinary action, they are prohibited from practicing as a lawyer for three years.