Park: "I Handled the Work According to Procedures... Will Fully Explain During the Investigation"
Former Minister of Justice Sungjae Park appeared as a suspect on the 24th before the Special Prosecutor Team for the Fallen Marine Myunghyun Lee in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae appeared as a suspect on the 24th at the Special Prosecutor Team for the Fallen Marine Myunghyun Lee, on charges of being involved in the alleged escape to Australia by former Minister of National Defense Lee Jongseop. This was the first time Park has been questioned by the special prosecutor’s team investigating the fallen marine case.
Park arrived at the special prosecutor’s office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at 9:59 a.m. that day. When asked by reporters, “As a former prosecutor, did you ever think that lifting the travel ban on a suspect could be problematic?” Park replied, “I handled the work according to procedures. I will give a full explanation during the investigation,” and then proceeded to the interrogation room.
Park is suspected of assisting the overseas escape of former Minister Lee, who is the key suspect in the alleged external pressure on the investigation into the death of Corporal Chae. At the time of his appointment as Ambassador to Australia on March 4 last year, Lee was banned from leaving the country due to an investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). However, the Ministry of Justice lifted the travel ban on March 8, three days after his appointment, immediately after Lee appeared before the CIO for questioning.
The special prosecutor’s team suspects that there may have been improper instructions from higher authorities, including the presidential office, regarding Lee’s appointment as ambassador, the lifting of the travel ban, the issuance of a diplomatic passport, and his decision to return to Korea.
During its investigation of Ministry of Justice officials, the special prosecutor’s team reportedly obtained testimony that Park and then-Prosecutor General Shim Woojeong gave instructions to the staff handling the travel ban, directing them to “lift the travel ban on Lee, as he has been appointed ambassador.”
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