The Ministry of Justice's inspection committee on Thursday began a disciplinary review of Park Sang-yong, deputy chief prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, over alleged violations of investigative procedure and other misconduct related to his handling of the Ssangbangul inter-Korean fund transfer case. Park said upon arriving at the hearing that he had not been able to review the disciplinary case files but would offer a full account of himself.
The ministry convened the inspection committee at 2 p.m. Thursday to deliberate on disciplinary action against Park. The committee is an advisory body that reviews major inspection cases involving prosecutors and makes recommendations to the justice minister. It comprises up to 13 members, including a chairperson and vice chairperson, with external members making up at least two-thirds of its composition.
Park arrived at the ministry's Gwacheon complex in Gyeonggi Province at 1:44 p.m. and told reporters he had not been notified of the specific matters under review. "I had to come alone without legal counsel because there was so little time," he said, adding that he had not been investigated on the key disciplinary charges.
He said his requests to review and copy the case files, as well as a freedom-of-information request, had all been rejected. A request to postpone the hearing by one week was also denied. "As a prosecutor of the Republic of Korea, I will give a thorough explanation wherever any state institution calls me," he said. "I will do my best and act in accordance with my duties no matter the circumstances."
Park said he received notice to appear before the inspection committee on Monday. He said he had asked for the hearing to be postponed, citing insufficient preparation time given that he was notified only three days before the session. The ministry did not accept the postponement request.
Asked about the allegations against him — providing food to a suspect under investigation, posting on social media during working hours, and attending a hearing held solely by the People Power Party — Park declined to elaborate, saying it would not be appropriate to address those matters in front of the committee members.
Five of the inspection committee's 13 members were recently replaced. Park called this "highly inappropriate," saying it was "effectively the same as a player replacing a referee, or a prosecutor replacing a judge mid-trial." He added that he would nonetheless do his best under the circumstances.
Asked whether he viewed the proceedings as retaliation for his investigation into the inter-Korean fund transfer case, Park stopped short of using that word. "Rather than retaliation, there was a highly unusual suspension from duties, and committee members were replaced midway," he said. "There has also been a separate inspection on unrelated matters. I have concerns about several aspects of this."
Park had earlier come under scrutiny for allegedly pressing Lee Hwa-young, former vice governor for peace affairs of Gyeonggi Province, for specific testimony during the Ssangbangul investigation, while providing food and facilitating visits. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office requested in May, following a prior inspection committee review, that the ministry impose a two-month suspension on Park.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office cited three violations of investigative procedure in its disciplinary request: improperly demanding a confession through defense counsel, failing to prepare a confirmation of investigative process after summoning a detainee for questioning, and providing food or visit conveniences without justifiable cause. However, the so-called "salmon drinking party" allegation — which the Democratic Party had raised forcefully — was not included among the disciplinary charges.
The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office conducted an additional inspection of Park over his posting on Facebook during working hours and his attendance at a hearing organized solely by the People Power Party to investigate the "Democratic Party's withdrawal of indictments and trial manipulation." The Supreme Prosecutors' Office is reported to have filed an additional disciplinary request with the ministry on those grounds.
The Prosecutors Disciplinary Committee, chaired by the justice minister, is set to determine the final level of discipline against Park after receiving the inspection committee's recommendation. Following an amendment to the Prosecutors Disciplinary Act last year that allows the justice minister to file disciplinary requests directly, the ministry may also seek a heavier penalty of more than two months' suspension.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office requested a suspension of Park's duties under the Prosecutors Disciplinary Act on April 6, and the ministry ordered the suspension through June 5. The ministry then extended the suspension on May 29, citing concerns that allowing Park to continue performing his duties while facing disciplinary charges could undermine the trust of those involved in the case.
bell@heraldcorp.com
