Ministry of Justice: Investigation into Lee Hwayoung Testimony Coercion Allegations to Be Completed Next Month

Final Phase in Uncovering "Salmon Drinking Party" Allegations
Human Rights Violation Task Force Conducting Investigation... Decision on Disciplinary Action Imminent

Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of Justice announced on April 2 that it would complete the investigation and take necessary actions regarding the so-called "salmon drinking party" allegations raised during the investigation into the Ssangbangwool remittance to North Korea case, before the statute of limitations for disciplinary action expires.

Through a public notice on this day, the Ministry of Justice stated, "The disciplinary inspection case against Prosecutor Park Sangyong was subject to a special fact-finding directive from the Minister of Justice to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on September 17 last year." The ministry continued, "Accordingly, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office established a Human Rights Violation Inspection Task Force (TF) at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, which is currently conducting a fact-finding investigation," adding, "This matter does not require separate approval for inspection from the Chief Inspector of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office."

Previously, Assemblywoman Park Eunjung of the Korea Innovation Party argued that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's inspection division must approve the initiation of the inspection against Prosecutor Park before the statute of limitations for disciplinary action expires. According to the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act, disciplinary claims must be filed within three years from the date of the alleged misconduct.

The Ministry of Justice considers that circumstances surrounding the "salmon drinking party" occurred on May 17, 2023, meaning the statute of limitations expires by next month. Currently, the Human Rights Violation Inspection Task Force at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, which was formed following the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's directive on September 18 last year, is investigating the "salmon drinking party" allegations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.