President Lee Orders Superintendent Baek Haeryong to Join Investigation Team
Han Donghoon’s Side: "Baek Repeatedly Makes Baseless Lies"
Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party, criticized President Lee Jaemyung, stating, "The President should eradicate drugs, not use drugs for political purposes." His remarks targeted President Lee's directive to reinforce the joint prosecution-police investigation team probing allegations of interference in the customs-related drug investigation by dispatching Superintendent Baek Haeryong and instructing a thorough investigation.
On the 12th, through his social media account, Han said, "There is no middle ground when it comes to drugs. If there is a drug-related crime, regardless of rank or position, punishment should be harsh enough to make them cry out in pain." He continued, "I have been more committed to drug investigations than anyone else. When the Democratic Party undermined drug investigation capabilities by completely stripping the prosecution of investigative authority, I revived drug investigations through an executive order that fully restored the prosecution’s investigative powers."
Han went on to say, "But Baek Haeryong is someone who repeatedly filed criminal and civil lawsuits against me, falsely claiming that I covered up a drug investigation I know nothing about." He criticized, "For the President to single out such a person by name and order him to be assigned to the political prosecutor Lim Eunjung’s investigation team can only be seen as the President endorsing such lies and agreeing to share responsibility."
On August 20th, at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee hearing on the "Customs-Related Drug Smuggling Investigation Pressure Allegations," witnesses including Baek Haeryong, head of the Hwagok Precinct of Gangseo Police Station (then head of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station), are taking an oath. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
The allegations of interference in the customs-related drug investigation stem from a case in January 2023, in which Malaysian suspects smuggled a large quantity of methamphetamine through Incheon International Airport. During the investigation, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul obtained testimony implicating Incheon customs officials. There are suspicions that senior officials from the Presidential Office under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the police, and the Korea Customs Service exerted pressure to cover up the case. In relation to this, Superintendent Baek claimed that Han, who was then Minister of Justice, and others exerted such pressure.
In response, the Presidential Spokesperson’s Office announced to the press that "President Lee has reinforced the joint prosecution-police investigation team by dispatching Superintendent Baek. Chief Prosecutor Lim Eunjung of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office, who is in charge of the investigation, has been instructed to add more prosecutors if necessary and to thoroughly uncover the substantive truth behind all allegations. The President has directed that the investigation proceed independently and strictly, without sanctuary, regardless of rank or position."
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