Prosecutors Demand 2 Years and 6 Months Imprisonment for Park Jiwon, Director of National Intelligence Service's Son-in-Law, on Drug Use and Smuggling Charges

Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The prosecution has requested a prison sentence for Park Ji-won's eldest son-in-law, who was indicted for smuggling narcotics from the United States and directly using drugs.

At the sentencing hearing for Park's eldest son-in-law, Mr. A (46), held on the 29th at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 24 (Presiding Judge Jo Yong-rae), the prosecution requested, "Please sentence the defendant to 2 years and 6 months in prison and impose a fine of about 100,000 won."

The prosecution also requested a 4-year prison sentence for Ms. B (30), who was indicted for using and smoking drugs together with Mr. A at a motel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Ms. B is also on trial for other drug-related charges besides the drug use with Mr. A.

Mr. A, a former executive at Samsung Electronics, was indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act by smuggling ecstasy and marijuana into Korea when entering from Seattle, USA, in May 2019, and for smoking marijuana or taking ecstasy twice in July and August of the same year. He resigned from Samsung during the first trial.

During the trial, Mr. A admitted to using ecstasy and smoking marijuana after entering the country but denied intent to smuggle drugs, claiming he did not know drugs were in his bag upon arrival. On this day, he also pleaded for leniency, saying, "I should have discarded the drugs immediately when I found them by mistake, but I deeply regret giving them to others or using them."

Ms. B also stated in her final remarks, "I will not repeat the same mistake and will live serving society."

The sentencing hearing for both individuals is scheduled for the 27th of next month.