Lee Hwa-young, the former vice governor of peace for Gyeonggi-do, was sentenced to four months in prison for perjury on June 2 [1, 2].
The ruling marks the first judicial determination regarding Lee's high-profile allegations of a "salmon drinking party" involving prosecutors, a claim that sparked significant political debate in South Korea.
The Suwon District Court found that Lee committed perjury during a National Assembly hearing in October 2024 [1, 3]. Lee had alleged that a drinking party featuring salmon took place within a prosecutor's office, but the court determined the testimony was inconsistent [1, 3].
Regarding the evidence, four out of seven members of the jury concluded that the drinking party did not occur [1]. The court said the statements lacked consistency and did not appear credible [1].
While the court handed down a prison sentence for the perjury charge, it issued different rulings on other counts. Lee was found not guilty of violating the Political Funds Act [3]. Additionally, the court dismissed three other charges, including abuse of power [3].
This legal process concluded after preparatory trial proceedings lasted one year and two months [2]. The final judgment addresses five total charges, with four of them either acquitted or dismissed [3].
“The statements lacked consistency and did not appear credible.”
This verdict undermines the credibility of the 'salmon drinking party' narrative that Lee Hwa-young used to challenge the prosecution's integrity. By sentencing Lee for perjury while dismissing several other charges, the court has signaled a strict boundary between political rhetoric and legal evidence, effectively closing the door on the specific allegations of misconduct within the prosecutor's office based on Lee's testimony.
