Justice Minister Jeong Sung-ho: "Measures After 'Salmon Drinking Party' Investigation"... Prosecution Transfers Case to Special Prosecutor

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Justice Minister Sung-ho Jeong stated on April 3 that regarding the so-called "Salmon Drinking Party" allegations raised during the investigation into remittances to North Korea, "Once the fact-finding investigation is completed, appropriate measures will be taken based on the results."

Justice Minister Seongho Jeong is responding to lawmakers' questions at the plenary meeting of the Special Committee on the National Inquiry into the Alleged Political Prosecutor Fabrications under the Yoon Seok-youl Administration, held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News

Minister Jeong attended the agency report by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office at the Special Committee for the Investigation of the Political Prosecution and Fabricated Indictment Allegations of the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration, held at the National Assembly that morning. He stressed, "I take the situation, in which I am reporting the Ministry of Justice’s findings on the incidents under investigation by the National Assembly, such as the Ssangbangwool remittance case, as extremely grave and serious."

Minister Jeong also provided a detailed disclosure of the results of an internal fact-finding investigation, which was conducted by a special inspection team of seven people organized by the Ministry of Justice at the end of July last year, in response to the former vice governor’s claims of attempts to coax testimony during the investigation.

Minister Jeong explained, "Upon reviewing the statements of staff involved in the on-site investigation at Suwon Detention Center and inmates, it was confirmed that there were instances of outside food and alcohol being consumed in the prosecutor’s office, as well as situations in the video recording rooms where accomplices were mixed together. This required a more thorough investigation of the facts."

The Ministry of Justice determined that it would be more appropriate for the prosecution to conduct an internal investigation, rather than launching a direct audit, and therefore transferred the relevant materials in September last year. Minister Jeong emphasized, "Currently, under the direction of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, a Human Rights Task Force at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office is conducting a fact-finding investigation. Based on the results, we will take appropriate action and meticulously address any shortcomings in the system to establish a strict order in detention facilities."

Acting Prosecutor General Koo JAHyun is speaking at the cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung at the Government Complex Sejong on the 17th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Deputy Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun (Acting Prosecutor General) also said, "It is very distressing and serious that suspicions of fabricated indictments by the prosecution have led to a National Assembly investigation," and proceeded to explain the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s response to the allegations of witness coercion.

Acting Prosecutor General Koo stated, "The Ministry of Justice’s special inspection confirmed some circumstances consistent with the claims of the former vice governor, so on September 18 last year, the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office established a Human Rights Task Force. We are currently conducting a fact-finding investigation, including questioning 45 individuals such as correctional officers and Ssangbangwool executives and employees. We also plan to further review a new audio recording recently made public by the former vice governor’s attorney."

He continued, "Recently, the second comprehensive special prosecutor’s team (Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young) requested the transfer of the case related to the witness coercion to the Human Rights Task Force at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, and that process is currently underway. If the fact-finding investigation confirms the allegations are true, we will take corresponding measures."

However, he also expressed concern about the ongoing trials and asked the National Assembly for consideration. Acting Prosecutor General Koo appealed, "There are indeed various concerns regarding the ongoing trials. I earnestly request that you take into account the situation of investigators and prosecutors in the field who are responsible for investigations or work, and be as considerate as possible when requiring them to testify in court."

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