Daegum Requests Disciplinary Action Against Prosecutors for 'Lime Entertainment and Secondary Harm to Park Won-soon Victims'

Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has filed disciplinary charges against three prosecutors who were investigated for receiving alcohol entertainment from Kim Bong-hyun, the former chairman of Star Mobility and a suspect in the 'Lime Asset Management (Lime) scandal,' as well as Deputy Chief Prosecutor Jin Hyewon of the Ansan Branch Office, who sparked controversy over 'secondary harm' to the sexual harassment victim of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 24th, the Inspection Department referred these individuals to the Inspection Committee on the 20th, and Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo requested the Ministry of Justice to discipline them based on the committee's review results.

The specific level of disciplinary action requested has not been confirmed, but it is reported that the Inspection Committee agreed on dismissal, suspension, and pay reduction for the three prosecutors involved in the 'Lime alcohol entertainment,' respectively, and recommended suspension for Prosecutor Jin. The Ministry of Justice will convene a disciplinary committee based on the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Committee's review results to finalize whether to discipline and the level of discipline.

Earlier, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office indicted a lawyer, a former prosecutor known to have arranged the drinking party with former Chairman Kim last December, on charges of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. The prosecution indicted Deputy Chief Prosecutor A, who attended the event, but did not indict the other two prosecutors, who left early that night, citing that the amount of entertainment received was less than 1 million won.

In July last year, Prosecutor Jin sparked controversy by posting a photo of herself linking arms with former Mayor Park and writing, "I confess. I sexually harassed an adult male by linking arms." The Korean Women Lawyers Association submitted a petition to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office requesting disciplinary action against Prosecutor Jin, claiming that her remarks damaged the dignity under the Prosecutors' Disciplinary Act and constituted secondary harm. After one year of investigation, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office concluded that severe disciplinary action was necessary.