Actor Park Sung-woong Subpoenaed in Marine Death Lobbying Scandal
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A South Korean court has compelled actor Park Sung-woong to appear as a witness on March 25th in the perjury trial of former Marine Corps 1st Division commander Im Seong-geun,escalating a high-profile case involving allegations of political interference in a military investigation. Failure to comply with the summons could result in a fine of up to 5 million won.
Key Witness in Perjury Case
The special prosecutor team investigating the death of Marine Lee Myung-hyeon secured the court’s acceptance of Park Sung-woong as a witness at a trial readiness hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court on february 28th. The hearing, overseen by chief Judge Cho Hyeong-woo, focused on establishing a proof plan for the case against former commander Im, who faces charges under the national Assembly Testimony Evaluation Act.
Park’s testimony is considered crucial because he reportedly provided statements supporting a connection between Im and Lee Jong-ho,a former CEO of Black Pearl Invest and a close associate of First Lady Kim Kun-hee. This connection is central to allegations that lobbying efforts were undertaken to mitigate the consequences for Im, who was under scrutiny regarding the circumstances surrounding Lee’s death while on a rescue mission in July 2023.
Contradictory Testimony and Allegations of Influence
The investigation centers on suspicions that individuals attempted to influence the outcome of the inquiry into Marine Lee’s death.According to reports, Im and Lee Jong-ho previously maintained they did not know each other. However, Park Sung-woong’s statement to investigators in september of last year – that he dined with both men in Gangnam, Seoul, in 2022 – directly contradicts this claim and suggests a pre-existing relationship.
This alleged relationship has fueled speculation that Lee Jong-ho may have leveraged his connections to lobby on behalf of Im. A senior official stated that park’s testimony is a “key circumstance supporting the possibility of suspicion of lobbying.”
Shifting Accounts and Perjury Charges
The case took a dramatic turn when Im testified before the National Assembly in October of last year. When questioned about a meeting between himself, Lee Jong-ho, and Park Sung-woong, Im reportedly stated, “I have never met Mr. Jong-ho Lee. I have not even met him, so how can I meet that actor?” The special prosecution team alleges this testimony was demonstrably false and filed perjury charges against Im in November.
further complicating matters, Im is also accused of providing inconsistent statements regarding his cell phone password. He initially claimed he “didn’t remember” the password during a National Assembly hearing in July 2024, but later provided it to investigators, claiming he had “m
The investigation began following the death of Marine Lee Myung-hyeon during a search and rescue operation in July 2023. initial reports suggested the operation was hampered by insufficient preparation and a delayed response.Concerns grew that high-ranking officials were attempting to downplay the severity of the situation and shield those responsible from accountability.
Why it matters: The case has ignited public outrage in South Korea, raising questions about political interference in the military and the fairness of investigations into the deaths of service members. Who is involved: Key figures include former Marine commander Im Seong-geun, actor Park Sung-woong, former CEO Lee Jong-ho, and the late Marine Lee Myung-hyeon.What happened: Allegations surfaced that Im and Lee Jong-ho attempted to cover up details surrounding Lee Myung-hyeon’s death, perhaps through lobbying efforts. How it unfolded: Park Sung-
