Ministry of Justice: "Prosecutor Park Sangyong's Suspension Is Not Indefinite... Until Disciplinary Resolution"

"Disciplinary Proceedings Will Be Conducted Fairly in Accordance With Due Process"

The Ministry of Justice clarified that the extension of the work suspension period for Deputy Chief Prosecutor Park Sangyong of the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office is not an indefinite suspension, but rather that his duties are suspended until a disciplinary resolution is made.

Prosecutor Sangyong Park appeared at the hearing of the 'Special Committee for the National Assembly Investigation into Allegations of Political Prosecution and Fabricated Indictments by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration' held on April 14 and refused to take the witness oath, then left and waited outside the meeting room. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

On June 1, the Ministry of Justice stated, “In the past as well, when the Minister of Justice suspended a prosecutor from duty and the Prosecutor General filed for disciplinary action, the prosecutor’s work was suspended until the disciplinary committee reached a decision.”

On May 28, the Ministry sent an official notice to Prosecutor Park stating that, effective from June 6, immediately after the end of his previous suspension period, he would remain suspended from duty until a separate order is issued. According to the Prosecutors’ Disciplinary Act, the Minister of Justice may order the suspension of duties for a prosecutor facing disciplinary action. This provision does not specify any time limit for the suspension period.

In response, Prosecutor Park filed a petition with the National Sinmungo (the government’s public petition system) the day after receiving the notice, arguing, “It is an unlawful abuse of authority by the Minister of Justice to indefinitely extend my work suspension when a two-month suspension has already been requested as disciplinary action.”

Previously, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office requested a two-month suspension for Prosecutor Park, stating that, during the investigation into the North Korea remittance case, he inappropriately pressured for a confession through the defense attorney, failed to document the investigation process, and provided outside food to the suspect.

The Ministry of Justice explained, “We determined that if the disciplinary suspect continues to perform prosecutorial duties such as investigation and case handling, it would likely undermine the fairness of prosecutorial work and the trust of parties involved in the case. Therefore, under Article 8, Paragraph 2 of the Prosecutors’ Disciplinary Act, the suspension of duties has been lawfully ordered during the disciplinary process.”

The Ministry added, “Going forward, disciplinary proceedings against Prosecutor Park will be conducted fairly and in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.”

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