(C) KBS
The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which has been probing the 'external pressure on customs drug investigation' allegations raised by Police Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong, is reportedly set to announce its interim findings as early as this week. The JIT's conclusion is expected to state that no evidence was found to support the claims.
This development has met with strong opposition from Superintendent Baek, who has vowed to consider seeking warrants for prosecutorial search and seizure. The controversy puts the spotlight back on President Lee Jae-myung, who had previously instructed a swift and thorough investigation into the matter following Baek's initial claims, potentially leaving the administration in an awkward position.
JIT Finds No Evidence of Presidential Office or Police Command Interference
According to The Chosun Ilbo on December 1, the JIT conducted searches of the National Investigation Headquarters (NIH) of the National Police Agency twice—once on August 21 and again on November 4. These searches were aimed at verifying Superintendent Baek’s central claim: that the Yoon Suk Yeol Presidential Office and the police command structure at the time had exerted external pressure to obstruct the investigation.
Superintendent Baek alleges that in September 2023, shortly after securing a confession from a drug courier implicating Incheon Customs officials, his then-direct supervisor, Kim Chan-soo (currently a Chief Superintendent General), ordered a postponement of a press briefing, stating that “Yongsan (the Presidential Office) is taking this seriously.” Baek further claims that senior Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) officials ordered the removal of any mention of the 'customs involvement' from the press release, asserting that the Presidential Office under the Yoon administration was behind this directive.
However, the police officials involved have countered these claims. While acknowledging the instruction to "omit the customs content from the press release," they explained it was a stance of prudence in publicizing information based only on the unilateral testimony of drug smugglers without further corroborating evidence. Former Superintendent Kim also explicitly denied ever mentioning "Yongsan or the President" to Baek.
To verify these conflicting accounts, the JIT secured and analyzed communication records, computer logs of the involved police officials, and witness statements. The investigation reportedly found no evidence suggesting that officials from the Presidential Office or senior police command exerted external pressure on Baek’s investigation.
'Customs Involvement' Allegations Also Deemed Unsubstantiated
In addition to the external pressure claims, the JIT has also reportedly concluded that there is "no basis" for Superintendent Baek's assertion that Customs officials were involved in the drug smuggling operation.
Immediately following its launch, the JIT executed search warrants on June 23 at over ten locations, including the Incheon Customs server and the homes of the Customs officials named in Baek's allegations. They seized mobile phones, computers, and surveillance camera server data containing footage of the Malaysian couriers during the smuggling operation. Bank accounts of the Customs officials and their families were also traced.
On November 21, the JIT also questioned Go Gwang-hyo, the former Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, who denied all related allegations. Crucially, the three Malaysian couriers, who had previously testified during the police investigation that Customs officials aided in the meth (philopon) smuggling, have since recanted their statements during recent JIT questioning, stating that "Customs officials never helped with the smuggling."
The JIT's decision to publicly release its 'interim investigation results' this week stems from a concern that Baek’s continued public assertion of unverified claims is severely undermining the credibility and reliability of the joint investigation.
The JIT has operated as two distinct units: the original Prosecution-Police Joint Investigation Team led by Prosecutor Yun Guk-kwon, which has been active since June, and a separate team established in mid-October under Superintendent Baek's leadership. The upcoming interim findings are the results of the Prosecutor-Police Joint Investigation Team's work.
Baek Vows to Seek Warrants Against Prosecution, Considers Referral to Corruption Watchdog
In response, Superintendent Baek told The Chosun Ilbo that he is "considering applying for search and seizure warrants" targeting the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office. The goal is to secure investigation records that could prove the prosecution "covered up the 'drug gate' case."
Baek warned that if the prosecution rejects his warrant applications and fails to file them with the court, he will "consider going to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO)." This suggests that if the prosecution denies his warrants, he may file a complaint against the JIT prosecutors with the CIO.
Furthermore, Baek also accused Prosecutor Im Eun-jung of the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office of obstructing his investigation by refusing his request to review the investigation records from his time as the Chief of the Criminal Division at the Yeongdeungpo Police Station.
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