On November 13, the National Police Agency announced that it is considering extending Chief Inspector Baek Haeryong's dispatch to the Joint Investigation Team at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office.
Chief Inspector Baek Haeryong is answering questions from reporters while heading to the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
An official from the National Police Agency told The Asia Business Daily in a phone call on the same day, "The Supreme Prosecutors' Office has requested an extension of the dispatch, and we are currently reviewing the request."
Earlier, the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office requested the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to discuss extending Chief Inspector Baek's dispatch, which is set to end on November 14. The extension period would be two months, and if approved, Baek's dispatch would continue until January 14 of next year.
The National Police Agency granted Chief Inspector Baek access to the Criminal Justice Information System (KICS). KICS is an institutional information system jointly used by the courts, the Ministry of Justice, the prosecution, and the police to handle criminal justice work. This measure was taken about a month after Baek joined the Joint Investigation Team.
Chief Inspector Baek is known for exposing allegations of external pressure on customs drug investigations and was dispatched to the Joint Investigation Team on October 15, following President Lee Jaemyung's directive.
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