Lee Hwa-young, the former head of the Gyeonggi-do Peace Department, was sentenced to four months in prison for perjury on June 2, 2026 [1], [2].
The ruling follows a high-profile legal battle over the credibility of Lee's testimony regarding alleged misconduct within the prosecution service. The case highlights the tensions between former provincial officials and the South Korean legal system.
The Suwon District Court delivered the sentence in the early morning hours [2]. Lee had been accused of lying about a so-called "salmon drinking party" that allegedly took place in the prosecutor’s office [1]. During the proceedings, the court found that Lee's testimony was inconsistent and lacked credibility [1].
The case was handled as a citizen-participation trial, a process that required a preparation period of one year and two months [3]. In this format, a panel of citizens helps determine the facts of the case. According to court reports, four out of seven jurors concluded that the drinking party in question never took place [2].
While Lee was convicted of violating the Act on Testimony before the National Assembly and Courts, other legal challenges did not result in convictions [1]. The court acquitted Lee of violations of the Political Funds Act, and dismissed charges related to abuse of authority [1].
"Lee Hwa-young, former Gyeonggi-do peace department head, was sentenced to a prison term in the first trial as a result of a citizen-participation trial," a YTN News anchor said [2].
“Four out of seven jurors concluded that the drinking party in question never took place.”
The conviction of Lee Hwa-young underscores the legal risks associated with public testimony in South Korea's highly polarized political climate. By utilizing a citizen-participation trial, the court relied on a lay jury to debunk the 'salmon drinking party' narrative, effectively neutralizing a specific political claim against the prosecution while simultaneously clearing Lee of more serious abuse-of-authority charges.
