Ministry of Justice Indefinitely Extends Suspension of Prosecutor Park Sangyong Over 'Ssangbangwool Investigation'

Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of Justice has indefinitely extended the suspension period of Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Sangyong of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, who is under investigation for alleged misconduct related to the Ssangbangwool remittance-to-North Korea case.

According to the legal community on May 29, the Ministry of Justice sent an official notice to Prosecutor Park the previous day, stating that his work would be suspended starting June 6, 2026, until further notice. Prosecutor Park has already been suspended from his duties since April 6, 2026.

Prosecutor Park’s suspension period had previously been set at the maximum of two months, as the Minister of Justice can suspend a prosecutor’s work for up to two months upon the Prosecutor General’s request. However, with this new measure, the suspension has effectively become indefinite. According to Article 8, Paragraph 2 of the Prosecutors’ Disciplinary Act, the Minister of Justice may order the suspension of duties for a prosecutor subject to disciplinary action.

Earlier, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office requested a two-month suspension for Prosecutor Park, citing that he had unjustly demanded confessions from defense attorneys and provided outside food to a suspect during the investigation into the North Korea remittance case.

The Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office, where Prosecutor Park is assigned, is also conducting a separate internal investigation into him. Controversy arose after Prosecutor Park refused to take an oath as a witness before the National Assembly’s special investigation committee in April and attended a forum hosted by the People Power Party, actions that were seen as violating the obligation of political neutrality.

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