On the 11th, as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was set to hold an disciplinary committee to deliberate on disciplinary action against Park Sang-yong, a deputy prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who is accused of coaxing testimony in the Ssangbangul North Korean remittance investigation, Prosecutor Park is seen entering the civil affairs office of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong to wait. [Yonhap News]  
Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against Park Sang-yong, a deputy prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who faces various allegations including 'salmon and alcohol party' inducements during the Ssangbangul North Korean remittance investigation.

It was learned through Yonhap News reporting that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's disciplinary committee has requested severe disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park, specifically 'suspension from duty'.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated in a press release on the 12th, "Following deliberation by the disciplinary committee, a disciplinary request has been filed against Prosecutor Park."

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained that the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office's Human Rights Infringement Inspection Task Force (TF) investigation confirmed violations of regulations by Prosecutor Park, including: ▲ Unjustly demanding a confession through a lawyer by mentioning investigations into other cases, ▲ Failing to prepare a written confirmation of investigation procedures despite summoning and questioning inmates, and ▲ Providing food or visitation conveniences without justifiable cause.

However, the office added that disciplinary action was not requested for the failure to prevent the introduction and provision of alcohol due to lax supervision, and for unnecessarily summoning witnesses repeatedly, respecting the disciplinary committee's decision.

Prosecutor Park was suspected of attempting to elicit testimony from defendants, including 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 Korean remittance case at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office. The allegation is that he provided salmon and alcohol to the defendants and pressured them to state that Lee Jae-myung, then leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was involved in the North Korean remittance.

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

Additionally, criticisms were raised that Prosecutor Park repeatedly summoned and questioned defendants such as the former Vice Governor and former Chairman Kim, and did not properly prepare written confirmations of investigation procedures.

The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office TF, which had been investigating the allegations, concluded based on the investigation results of related individuals that the alcohol party had occurred and reported this to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Evidence cited includes the corporate card payment records for the purchase of soju from a nearby convenience store by a former Ssangbangul executive, and the fact that former Vice Governor Lee showed a truthful reaction during a polygraph test.

On the 11th, as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was set to hold an disciplinary committee to deliberate on disciplinary action against Park Sang-yong, a deputy prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who is accused of coaxing testimony in the Ssangbangul North Korean remittance investigation, Prosecutor Park is seen waiting at the civil affairs office of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong. [Yonhap News] 

Prosecutor Park has denied all the allegations. He maintains that there was no 'salmon and alcohol reception' at the prosecutors' office in exchange for specific testimony, and that his conversation with Mr. Seo was merely an explanation of legal matters, not coaxing.

It is understood that Prosecutor Park also attended the disciplinary committee held the previous day and emphasized that a significant portion of the disciplinary grounds were not proven, and even if proven, such cases have not resulted in disciplinary action thus far.

However, the disciplinary committee, after reviewing both sides' arguments, is reported to have determined that most of the allegations were acknowledged.

The conclusion is that there were indeed procedural issues, such as the introduction of alcohol and food like salmon into the prosecutor's office, various conveniences provided during interviews, and the failure to properly prepare investigation confirmation documents.

However, it appears that a decision was made not to impose disciplinary action for the fact that alcohol was brought into the investigation room, as Prosecutor Park was unaware of it, and because the number of witness interviews was unavoidably high due to the investigative circumstances at the time.

On the 11th, as the Supreme Prosecutors' Office was set to hold an disciplinary committee to deliberate on disciplinary action against Park Sang-yong, a deputy prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who is accused of coaxing testimony in the Ssangbangul North Korean remittance investigation, Prosecutor Park is seen answering questions from reporters before entering the civil affairs office of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong to wait. [Yonhap News] 

Prosecutorial discipline has five levels: reprimand, salary reduction, suspension, dismissal, and removal from office. The disciplinary committee has recommended 'suspension from duty,' a severe disciplinary measure, and it is understood that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has also respected this in its request to the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Justice plans to hold its own disciplinary committee in the future to deliberate on further disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park or to decide whether to impose discipline.

The execution of disciplinary measures, excluding the mildest reprimand, is carried out by the President, the appointing authority, upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice.

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

The disciplinary level may change during the Ministry of Justice's review process.

In the case of former prosecutor Kim Sang-min, who held a book launch event while still a prosecutor and announced his intention to run for general elections, the then Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok requested suspension from duty in January 2024.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Justice held a disciplinary committee and recommended dismissal, two levels higher than suspension, but the Ministry of Justice's disciplinary committee decided on a three-month suspension.

With the Minister of Justice also able to request disciplinary action against prosecutors, cases have arisen where the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's disciplinary committee deems disciplinary action impossible, but the Ministry of Justice retrieves the records for re-examination, as in the case of the mass walkout at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office.

There are also claims within and outside the prosecution service, particularly from the ruling party, that given the strong calls for severe disciplinary action against Prosecutor Park, there is a high possibility that the disciplinary level against him will be increased at the Ministry of Justice stage.

Prosecutor Park stated when he attended the disciplinary committee the previous day, "If a disciplinary measure is ultimately imposed and I cannot accept its content, I plan to file a lawsuit for cancellation."