Im Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, will meet with Park Junghoon, Colonel and head of the Marine Corps Investigation Unit, and Baek Haeryong, former Chief of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station.
According to the legal community on July 15, Chief Prosecutor Im has invited Colonel Park and Superintendent Baek to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office on July 17 in the afternoon. The meeting is scheduled to be held privately.
This meeting is interpreted as an effort to encourage them as fellow "whistleblowers" and to explore ways to build solidarity. On her first day at work on July 4, Chief Prosecutor Im stated, "I am well aware of the hardships, suspicions, and anxieties that whistleblowers experience, so I will do my utmost to support them whenever possible."
Superintendent Baek, who raised allegations that the Presidential Office exerted external pressure on his investigation into customs officials' involvement in drug smuggling, has been transferred to Hwagok Police Precinct at Gangseo Police Station in what is seen as a demotion.
Colonel Park was referred to a military court on charges of insubordination after refusing to alter the initial investigation findings in the "Private Chae case" despite pressure from his superiors. However, on July 9, he was acquitted after the Marine Corps special prosecutor withdrew the appeal.
Meanwhile, regarding the allegations of customs drug smuggling and external pressure on the investigation raised by Superintendent Baek, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has formed a joint investigation team at the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office to uncover the facts.
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