No Evidence Found for Customs Officers' Involvement or External Pressure Allegations
Lim Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office and head of the "Joint Investigation Team on Customs Drug Smuggling Allegations," stated on December 9 regarding Inspector Baek Haeryong's allegations that customs officers aided drug smuggling, "One must distinguish between feelings, assumptions, and facts when making statements."
On this day, the "Joint Investigation Team on Customs Drug Smuggling Allegations" at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office cleared all suspicions regarding the involvement of customs officers and allegations of external pressure from the National Police Agency and the Korea Customs Service. Inspector Baek, who had been raising these suspicions, effectively challenged the decision by applying for search and seizure warrants for six locations, including the prosecutors' office and the Korea Customs Service. Chief Prosecutor Lim made her position clear in response to this move.
Chief Prosecutor Lim stated on her social media that, "Since being dispatched to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, I have encountered several claims and statements from Inspector Baek that were not consistent with the facts. Therefore, I was able to make a decision about the credibility of Inspector Baek's statements with a sense of relief."
Eum Eunjeong, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, is responding to lawmakers' questions at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
Chief Prosecutor Lim said, "After being assigned to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office and reviewing the relevant records, I was quite taken aback. Even according to Inspector Baek's testimony at the National Assembly, the only evidence supporting the suspicion of customs involvement was the statements of drug smugglers to the police and their statements during on-site verification."
She added, "The drug smugglers' statements were already inconsistent during police investigations, and there is video footage showing the drug smugglers brazenly conspiring to lie in Malay in front of Inspector Baek and other police officers, which left me understandably shocked."
Chief Prosecutor Lim pointed out, "Because the police were deceived by the drug smugglers' lies, the focus of the investigation shifted from the drug smuggling organization to customs officers. As a result, customs officers, who are a key part of drug investigations, were treated as accomplices and have been under investigation for more than two years, which likely prevented them from fully dedicating themselves to drug enforcement. This has caused significant harm not only to each customs officer but also at a national level."
In particular, Chief Prosecutor Lim said, "This past October in my office, I gave Inspector Baek the same advice I always give to those considering whistleblowing: You must distinguish between feelings, assumptions, and facts when making statements."
She continued, "Besides the suspicion of customs involvement, Inspector Baek has raised many other allegations. Like others, I also hope that Inspector Baek's team will conduct a thorough investigation. I will carefully review the records to ensure that Inspector Baek does not repeat the mistakes and errors seen in the 2023 Incheon Airport on-site investigation video."
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