Probe of Former Minister Park Sung-jae Goes to National Police Agency, Not Special Counsel

The case of former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, accused of violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Prevention Act, was transferred to the National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation on the 26th, after his team and the omnibus special counsel team disagreed over how to handle it. Former Minister Park is suspected of receiving an improper solicitation from former First Lady Kim Keon-hee to look into the investigation and progress of the case over allegations that she received a luxury handbag, and then ordering his subordinates to verify and report on the investigation status, which was confidential government information.

The insurrection special counsel team indicted former Minister Park for violating the Anti-Graft Act, but the first-instance court dismissed the charges last June on the grounds that the alleged offense fell outside the scope of crimes the special counsel law covers—martial law, insurrection, and treason. The insurrection special counsel team then transferred the case to the omnibus special counsel, believing there would be no procedural issues if it reinvestigated and indicted him, but the omnibus special counsel took the position that the case could not be transferred because it had already been closed. Deputy Special Counsel Kim Ji-mi said at a briefing on the 3rd of last month that little time remained before the investigation deadline of August 23, explaining, "This appears to be a matter that should be referred to the National Office of Investigation."

Separately from the Anti-Graft Act charges, former Minister Park was sentenced to 25 years in prison at his first trial and taken into custody on charges including performing key duties in an insurrection and abuse of authority. The appeal in that case is ongoing.