A South Korean court sentenced former Gyeonggi Province peace department head Lee Hwa-young to prison for perjury on June 20, 2026 [1].
The ruling is significant because it legally dismisses high-profile allegations regarding an illicit 'salmon liquor party,' casting doubt on the credibility of the former official's testimony.
The court found that Lee's statements lacked consistency. Specifically, the presiding judges determined that the claims regarding the existence of the salmon liquor party were false [2]. The court's decision to impose a prison sentence reflects a finding that the defendant intentionally provided misleading testimony during the legal proceedings [2].
During the trial, Lee described a flexible environment regarding meals and drinks. Lee said, "If Mr. Kim Seong-tae wanted to eat galbitang today, galbitang was provided, and if he wanted jajangmyeon, jajangmyeon was provided… drinking alcohol happened only once" [2].
Despite these descriptions of the events, the court remained unconvinced of the narrative's veracity. The lack of corroborating evidence, and the contradictions in the testimony, led the court to recognize the perjury [2].
Following the verdict, Park Sang-yong, a deputy chief prosecutor at the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, commented on the result. Park said, "I am grateful for the jury's judgment" [2].
The sentencing concludes the first trial stage for Lee. The court's rejection of the 'salmon liquor party' narrative removes a key piece of anecdotal evidence that had been central to the public discourse surrounding the case [2].
“The court found that Lee's statements lacked consistency.”
This ruling undermines the credibility of Lee Hwa-young's testimony and effectively closes the door on the 'salmon liquor party' narrative in the first instance. By sentencing a former high-ranking provincial official for perjury, the court has signaled a low tolerance for inconsistent testimony in cases involving public administration and political figures.
