Baek Haeryong's Testimony Suggesting 'External Pressure'
People Power Party: "Perjury... Facts Are Wrong"
Democratic Party: "Police Procedures Seriously Undermined"
The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee held a hearing regarding allegations of external pressure on the Seoul Yeongdeungpo Police Station during its investigation of last year's 'drug smuggling case.' The hearing began after Police Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong (then head of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station) revealed that he was instructed by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to "remove the Customs Service from the press release." The ruling party opposed the hearing, calling it a unilateral push, but the hearing was held after opposition party members voted in favor by a show of hands.
On the 20th, the Public Administration and Security Committee held a plenary session at the National Assembly to conduct the 'hearing related to allegations of external pressure on the drug investigation.' Members of the ruling People Power Party on the committee criticized Baek Superintendent for perjury, saying, "It will be a meaningless hearing." Members of the Democratic Party emphasized, "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency exerted pressure," and "We must uncover who ordered the external pressure on the drug investigation." The Democratic Party raised suspicions that the Presidential Office was involved behind the scenes in directing the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to revise the press release.
On the 20th, at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee hearing on the 'Customs-Related Drug Smuggling Investigation Pressure Allegation,' Chairman Shin Jeong-hoon is striking the gavel. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
Shin Jeong-hoon, chair of the Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party, stated, "Issues regarding external pressure exerted on frontline police officers during the drug investigation are being raised not only in the National Assembly but also in various public forums such as the media and YouTube," adding, "Regardless of political stance, I hope this will be a valuable time to resolve the suspicions raised by the public."
People Power Party lawmaker Bae Jun-young said during a procedural speech, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has emphasized drug investigations more than any previous government," and "Is it even plausible that such a government would exert external pressure on drug investigations?" He continued, "Rather than being engulfed in public criticism calling this a 'meaningless hearing' through such unproductive hearings, I strongly urge our committee to conduct productive hearings going forward."
Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young said, "You will know by watching," and "What must be revealed through today's hearing is who actually instigated or ordered the external pressure on the drug investigation." Lawmaker Yang Bu-nam said, "Superintendent Baek reportedly conducted the second-largest drug investigation in police history," and "As lawmaker Bae Jun-young said, considering the government’s policy direction, he should have been promoted, but he was demoted."
Baek Haeryong, Chief of the Gwangok Precinct at Gangseo Police Station (former Chief of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station), is speaking at the hearing on the "Customs-Related Drug Smuggling Investigation Interference Allegation" held by the Public Administration and Security Committee at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@
People Power Party lawmaker Cho Eun-hee pointed out, "Many parts of Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong's testimony have been proven to be inconsistent with the facts," and "the claim that he was notified of a decision to transfer the drug investigation case from Yeongdeungpo to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was not true." She also said, "(At that time, the Yeongdeungpo) investigation team's claim that the investigation was halted was also a falsehood based on incorrect facts," and "If Superintendent Baek fails to present any evidence to support his testimony after today's hearing, I request the chair to immediately approve a witness indictment for perjury."
Democratic Party lawmaker Chae Hyun-il said, "A large quantity of drugs passed through immigration inspection and customs openly and was smuggled into the country, leading to an investigation," adding, "However, when suspicions of Customs involvement arose, the situation changed rapidly." He continued, "The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency ordered the removal of Customs details from the press release, instructed to revise it, postponed the briefing, and even ordered the case transfer," and "The Customs Service directly approached the investigator and made several phone calls attempting to change the direction of the briefing and press release." He added, "This is clear external pressure on the investigation and the essence of this case."
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