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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office has requested a disciplinary suspension for Park Sang-yong over alleged misconduct during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea case.
According to the prosecution on May 12, the inspection committee of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office decided to seek disciplinary action against Park following its review.
Park, who was investigating the case at the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office, had been accused of attempting to induce statements implicating Lee Jae-myung in the alleged remittance to North Korea. The allegations stem from claims that, on May 17, 2023, Park provided food and alcohol—reportedly including salmon—to suspects such as former Gyeonggi Vice Governor Lee Hwa-young and former Ssangbangwool chairman Kim Sung-tae.
The inspection committee concluded that Park committed violations of regulations and engaged in inappropriate conduct during the investigation.
Key grounds for the disciplinary request include allegedly pressuring suspects to confess through their legal counsel by referencing other cases, providing food and visitation conveniences to detainees without proper justification, and failing to prepare confirmation documents after summoning detainees for questioning.
However, regarding the highly controversial allegation of a “salmon and alcohol party,” the committee decided not to hold Park accountable for alcohol being present in the interrogation room. While it confirmed that food had been provided, it determined that Park was not aware that alcohol had been brought into the room.
The committee also concluded that responsibility for preventing alcohol from entering the detention facility lies with correctional officers. Additionally, concerns about repeatedly summoning witnesses were deemed unavoidable given the circumstances of the investigation and were not included as grounds for discipline.
Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
