[Customs Service Betrayal] Peru Mung Bean Investigation by Customs, Interpreter is Local Mung Bean Merchant?

Incheon Customs' Interpreter 'Mr. Park' Hired in Peru
Investigating Mung Bean Origin, but Mr. Park Is Also a Mung Bean Exporter
"Taking Investigation Subjects Along on Origin Inspections"
Peruvian Companies Distrust and Fear Korean Customs
Companies Near Bankruptcy, Yet the Responsible Team Receives 'Best' Award

Incheon Customs was found to have used a local Korean mung bean exporter as an interpreter during an investigation in Peru to verify the origin of mung beans imported into South Korea. This meant that they conducted information gathering targeting Peruvian companies and farmers while accompanied by a competitor trading mung beans. It is highly unlikely that the investigation was conducted properly, and there have even been reports that the interpreter was not proficient in the local language.

According to a comprehensive report by Asia Economy on the 4th, Incheon Customs conducted two local investigations in Peru in April and August last year to verify the origin of Peruvian mung beans. The April investigation was an unofficial information-gathering survey, while the August one was an official investigation. The person who served as the interpreter during the April investigation was ‘Mr. xxx Park (hereafter Mr. Park).’

Many Korean import companies and Peruvian firms claim that Mr. Park’s presence was the biggest problem. This is because Mr. Park was involved in exporting mung beans from Peru to Korea. Lee Chung-dae, president of the Korea Grain Distribution Association, stated, “According to testimonies from related parties, the customs’ method of collecting data during their visit to Peru was arbitrary and illegal,” and pointed out, “They interviewed farmers and others while accompanied by a Korean-Peruvian exporter who was the subject of the investigation, serving as an interpreter.”

In particular, Peruvian mung bean exporters reportedly felt uncomfortable with Mr. Park’s presence. At that time, the Korean customs team requested Peruvian companies to provide documentation proving the origin of the mung beans in the presence of Mr. Park, who was a competitor in the same industry. The documents included manufacturing costs, clients, production scale, and so forth, meaning that trade secrets had to be disclosed to a competitor in the same industry. Lee explained, “Exporters and producers in Peru reportedly developed a distrustful and fearful atmosphere toward the Korean customs investigation.”

Interpreter Not Proficient in Foreign Language?…Korea Customs Service Says “Did Not Interpret During Verification”

There are also doubts about the interpreter’s language skills. In Peru, English and Spanish are used in the capital Lima, while Spanish is used in other regions. However, according to reports, local company officials and farmers hinted that Mr. Park’s Spanish proficiency was insufficient, making proper communication difficult.

Although voices criticized the investigation as unreasonable, the Korea Customs Service maintains that there was no problem. The Customs Service acknowledged, “Mr. Park served as an interpreter during the April visit,” but explained, “He did not interpret during the verification.” Since April was not an official investigation, it is irrelevant, and a different interpreter was present during the official verification in August, so there was no procedural flaw. However, they did not respond to questions about why they did not hire an official interpreter and instead brought along Mr. Park, who is an exporter.

Instead, the Customs Service awarded the responsible team, the Free Trade Agreement Verification Division of Incheon Customs. They were selected for the top prize in the first half of 2022 in the Origin Investigation Information Analysis Competition for “in-depth analysis of the possibility of offshore circumvention imports of Peruvian agricultural and marine products.” Regarding this, when asked whether they had identified any smuggling suspicions, or if there was any testimony or minimal evidence such as smuggling routes, they did not respond.

An official from an importing company lamented, “The citizens who were unfairly forced to close their businesses are suffering from severe mental stress, family conflicts, and credit crises,” and expressed doubt, saying, “I wonder if it is appropriate to award this as an achievement.”

The Korea Customs Service held the "First Half Origin Investigation Information Analysis Competition" on March 31 last year at the Daejeon Training Center and selected the case of origin verification of Peruvian agricultural products by the Incheon Customs Free Trade Agreement Verification Division as the best. Photo by Korea Customs Service