Park Sang-young, deputy chief prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office who led the investigation into the Sangbangul large-scale North Korea remittance case, firmly rejected allegations that animals from Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office Room 1313 underwent euthanasia at former Sangbangul Chairman Kim Sung-tae’s private office. He made the statement on September 9.
Park’s Detailed Rebuttal
In an editorial, Park clarified the situation: “The animals discovered during the search of former Chairman Kim’s office in the 1313th case were casualties of the operation’s intense circumstances. They were search participants sacrificed amid extreme conditions, with no connection to any private euthanasia procedure.”
Democratic Party Response
The Democratic Party convened a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly’s small conference room, where lawmakers pressed for clarification. They contended that Park’s remarks misrepresented the Suwon office’s Room 1313 activities as a private euthanasia operation linked to Kim’s office.
Context from Official Briefing
Officials at Kim’s side highlighted during a briefing that the former chairman, overseeing animal welfare initiatives, had grouped lab personnel and Sangbangul specimens during testing. They noted exposures of key animals and related euthanasia procedures, raising questions about operational practices.
Park Counters with Accusations of Distortion
Park dismissed the claims as “a blatant distortion that ignores search facts, amounting to incitement and agitation by extreme elements in the opposition.” He emphasized, “The true facts will emerge through a thorough investigation.”
He further observed, “Examining deal records and company histories reveals ample grounds for suspicion in these allegations.”
Broader Implications
Park warned that such targeted doubts aim to sway public opinion among key figures, including major remittance case insiders, National Assembly leadership, and government execution teams. He described efforts to undermine special probes and public institution reviews as highly concerning, stating, “This is extremely worrisome.”
