Democratic Party "Customs Drug Investigation Pressure Allegations... Yongsan Presidential Office Involvement"

"Police Version of the Second Chae Sang-byeong Incident"

Members of the Democratic Party belonging to the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee stated on the 30th that the alleged external pressure on the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station Customs drug investigation is a "police version of the second Chae Sang-byeong incident," and declared, "We will definitely uncover the investigation pressure allegations involving the Yongsan Presidential Office."

Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, is striking the gavel.
[Photo by Kim Hyun-min]

On the same day, Representatives Shin Jeong-hoon, Yoon Geon-young, Kim Seong-hoe, Mo Gyeong-jong, Park Jeong-hyun, Yang Bu-nam, Wi Seong-gon, Lee Gwang-hee, Lee Sang-sik, Lee Hae-sik, Chae Hyun-il, and Han Byeong-do issued a joint statement saying, "At the confirmation hearing for the Police Chief nominee, Deputy Superintendent Baek stated that last September he received investigation pressure, including being told 'Yongsan is viewing this with resentment' and to postpone the drug investigation media briefing."

They added, "President Yoon Seok-yeol claims to be waging a war on drugs, yet he is cornering the diligent detective chief who conducted the drug investigation," and criticized, "Since there were indications of Customs Service involvement, the Yongsan Presidential Office, judging that it would not help the war on drugs, intervened in the investigation."

They further stated, "Deputy Commissioner Jo Byeong-no, who exerted pressure on Deputy Superintendent Baek, escaped disciplinary action, but Baek, who worked diligently, was disciplined by Seoul Police Chief Jo Ji-ho and even faced a demotion transfer," and criticized, "Meanwhile, the Customs employee under suspicion changed their phone, raising concerns about evidence destruction. Is this the fairness President Yoon talks about?"