NorthKorea

Why Prosecutor Park Sang-yong Refused to Testify: The Controversial Double-Flow North Korean Remittance Case Explained

April 15, 2026

Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea Fund Transfer case, is being escorted out of a hearing on allegations of fabricated charges in the Ssangbangwool North Korea fund transfer case held on Tuesday by the National Assembly’s Special Committee on the Investigation of the Truth Regarding Allegations of Political Prosecution and Fabricated Charges by the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration in Yeouido, Seoul, after refusing to take the oath as a witness 2026.4.14 / News1

Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea Fund Transfer case, is refusing to take the oath as a witness during a hearing on allegations of fabricated charges in the Ssangbangwool North Korea fund transfer case, held on Tuesday by the National Assembly’s Special Committee on the Investigation of the Truth Regarding Allegations of Political Prosecution and Fabricated Charges by the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration in Yeouido, Seoul 2026.4.14 / News1

Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool North Korea Fund Transfer case, is being escorted out by police officers after refusing to take the oath as a witness during a hearing on the alleged fabricated indictment in the Ssangbangwool North Korea Fund Transfer case, held on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, as part of the 434th National Assembly (Extraordinary Session) Special Committee on the Investigation of Allegations of Fabricated Indictments by the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration’s Political Prosecution 2026.4.14 / News1

On Tuesday, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, during a hearing held by the Special Committee on the National Assembly Investigation into the Alleged Fabrication of Indictments by the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration’s Political Prosecution regarding the 434th National Assembly (Extraordinary Session), Prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who appeared as a witness in the case involving allegations of fabricated indictments related to Ssangbangwool’s remittances to North Korea, is stating his position after being removed from the hearing for refusing to take the oath and failing to submit a written statement 2026.4.14 / News1

On Tuesday, the ruling and opposition parties clashed fiercely over Prosecutor Park Sang-yong’s repeated refusal to take an oath as a witness during the hearing on the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case.

Park refused to take the oath again, as he did on April 3, citing his intention to prevent the special prosecutor from dropping charges against President Lee Jae Myung.

That morning, the National Assembly’s special committee for investigating the alleged fabricated indictments by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration held a hearing related to the Ssangbangwool case.

Park, who had been summoned as a witness, declined to take the oath at the designated time, unlike other witnesses. He requested an opportunity to explain his position to Committee Chairman Seo Young-kyo. Seo asked Park to submit a written statement instead of allowing a public explanation, but Park insisted on explaining publicly and refused to comply.

Chairman Seo ultimately ordered Park to leave the hearing room and wait in a separate location.

Representative Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party defended Park’s actions, stating that a witness can refuse to take an oath if there are concerns about criminal prosecution or charges. Park is currently under accusation, suspended from duty, banned from leaving the country, and under investigation.

Yoon argued that Park’s refusal was justified due to his right against self-incrimination.

In response, Democratic Party member Jeon Yong-ki criticized Park, saying, Isn’t Park behaving like the boy who cried wolf? He goes outside shouting wolf and then refuses to take the oath when asked to do so in the meeting room. Why should we listen to the claims of someone who seems intent on lying?

Before attending the National Assembly, Park announced his refusal to take the oath on his social media. He stated that the ultimate purpose of my refusal is singular: to prevent the special prosecutor from dropping charges against President Lee. A special prosecutor appointed by the president dropping charges against him is no different from the president dropping charges against himself.