Ministry of Justice Inspection Committee to Discuss Disciplinary Action Against Park Sangyong on the 13th

Park: "Notified only three days in advance... Requesting just one more week"

Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of Justice's Inspection Committee will review the disciplinary action of Park Sangyong, Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who led the investigation into the Ssangbangwool remittance-to-North Korea allegations, on August 13. The Inspection Committee is comprised of between seven and thirteen members, including one chairperson and one vice chairperson. A majority of committee members must be present, and recommendations for necessary action to the Minister of Justice can be made if a majority of those present agree.

According to the legal community on August 10, the agenda for the upcoming Inspection Committee meeting on August 13 includes issues that arose during the Ssangbangwool investigation. These include Park posting on Facebook during working hours and attending a People Power Party hearing without submitting a written report to his superiors.

Earlier, the Ministry of Justice ordered an inspection into Park's remarks during his appearance at a "Democratic Party's Indictment Cancellation and Trial Manipulation Truth Investigation Hearing," which was conducted solely by the People Power Party. Accordingly, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office summoned Park for questioning on July 13, completed its inquiry at the end of last month, and the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office reportedly requested additional disciplinary action from the Ministry of Justice. Reasons for the disciplinary action include Park posting on Facebook during work hours and providing only an oral report (without a written report) to his superiors before attending the People Power Party hearing.

Previously, on May 12, after deliberation by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Inspection Committee, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office requested that the Ministry of Justice impose a two-month suspension, classified as severe disciplinary action, against Park. Grounds for this request included Park asking a lawyer for former Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Peace Lee Hwa-young to elicit a confession by mentioning another case during the Ssangbangwool investigation, failure to draft an investigation process confirmation document, and providing external food and conveniences during meetings. The previously raised allegation of a "salmon and alcohol party" was not included in the disciplinary actions. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office further explained that it did not file disciplinary charges regarding the failure to prevent alcohol from being brought in and provided, or the repeated and unnecessary summoning of witnesses, in respect of the Inspection Committee’s prior deliberation.

There are five types of disciplinary action for prosecutors: dismissal, removal from office, suspension, reduction in salary, and warning. Suspension or more severe penalties are generally classified as severe disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, on this day, Park publicly stated to the press, "I was just notified by the Ministry of Justice that I am to appear before the Inspection Committee in three days’ time," adding, "I do not have nearly enough time to prepare. I am requesting that the date be postponed by just one week."

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