Minister Jung Sung-ho of the Ministry of Justice said he would revisit the level of discipline sought for Park Sang-yong, deputy chief prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, who faces a two-month suspension over allegations including coerced confession. Because there is room for dispute in the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection findings and issues separately being reviewed by the Incheon office, the Ministry of Justice intends to examine them together and decide the final course of action.
The Minister met with reporters after paying respects at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju, on the 15th and said regarding Park's discipline, "There is room for dispute, so we are reviewing the records of the inspector general's office again." The Minister added, "There are matters inspected by the Incheon office, and we are discussing handling them together rather than separately," and said, "We will take appropriate action on this matter in line with the public's expectations."
Earlier, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office requested a two-month suspension for Park based on the findings of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office human rights violation review task force (TF). The Supreme Prosecutors' Office concluded that Park improperly demanded a confession through a defense attorney while referencing another case under investigation, and that Park summoned a detainee for questioning but failed to prepare a procedural confirmation of the investigative process. It also viewed providing food or visitation conveniences without justifiable reason as a rules violation.
However, the so-called "salmon drinking party" allegation was excluded from the disciplinary request. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection committee acknowledged that alcohol was brought into the Prosecution Service during the SSANGBANGWOOL North Korea remittance probe, but determined it was not a matter for which to seek discipline against a prosecutor. The Minister said of the correctional officers who testified about how the alcohol was brought in, "Those correctional officers bravely described what happened at the time," adding, "We will not hold them accountable in any way."
Separately from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's disciplinary request, the Ministry of Justice is also looking into Park's refusal to appear before the National Assembly and the controversy over his political remarks. Park is under inspection for refusing to take the oath as a witness at a National Assembly special committee hearing on a state affairs investigation, and for attending and speaking at a hearing held solely by the People Power Party.
The Minister explained that the Ministry is inspecting "the part where Park did not respond to a lawful state affairs investigation at the National Assembly, spoke at an opposition hearing, and appeared in the media to express various political views." The Minister added, "The Ministry of Justice inspector general's office is reviewing the (discipline) records, and there are matters also being reviewed in Incheon," and said, "We are considering proceeding together rather than separately."
The Minister's remarks suggest the Ministry of Justice may not simply follow the Supreme Prosecutors' Office inspection committee's resolution and could reassess the level of discipline after additional inspection or its own review. Since last year's amendment to the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act allows the Minister of Justice to request disciplinary deliberation for prosecutors, the Ministry could also initiate a new disciplinary process against Park based on a separate determination.
On the Ministry of Justice's planned Committee for the Future of Respecting Prosecutorial Human Rights, the Minister said, "We created the committee to review cases distorted due to political intent and, on that basis, to establish a reference point for moving into the future."
The Minister took a cautious stance on arguments that the prosecution's supplementary investigation authority should be abolished as part of prosecutorial reform. The Minister said, "If the first-stage investigation is perfect from an evidence-law perspective, a prosecutor can indict based on that," adding, "But who can guarantee that?" The Minister continued, "Investigation and indictment cannot be cleanly separated. The purpose of investigation is indictment," and said, "There must be an organic cooperative relationship."
Asked about future plans after the June 3 local elections, the Minister said, "While I serve as Minister of Justice, I intend to do my best," adding, "I will do my utmost until the end, and my position should follow the president's wishes."