Paek Haeryong Releases Draft of On-Site Verification Report... Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office Says "Possible Violation of Public Relations Rules"

Paek Haeryong, a police superintendent dispatched to the joint investigation team for the 'Customs Drug Investigation External Pressure Suspicion' at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, has abruptly released a draft report of on-site verification conducted with Malaysian nationals who acted as drug couriers.

Paek Haeryong, a police superintendent who was assigned to the joint investigation team for the 'Customs Drug Investigation External Pressure Suspicion' at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, is answering reporters' questions as he arrives for his first day at the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on October 16. Photo by Yonhap News.

On December 10, through a press release, Superintendent Paek refuted the joint investigation team's announcement, which concluded that the initial police investigation was insufficient, stating, "The joint investigation team is distorting the facts by using only a portion of the on-site investigation video." The document released by Superintendent Paek is 89 pages long and contains the details of two on-site verifications conducted in November 2023. It does not include the on-site investigation conducted on September 22, 2023, which the joint investigation team cited as grounds for its decision of no charges.

Superintendent Paek stated, "Because I could not trust the testimony led by Mr. A, I conducted five separate on-site verifications." Mr. A has been identified as the individual who allegedly orchestrated false statements.

Superintendent Paek further claimed, "During the initial on-site investigation, Mr. A pressured and induced other drug couriers to testify, and I observed but did not intervene when he guided them during subsequent on-site verifications," adding, "Ultimately, the final version of the on-site verification specified the facts and individuals each person experienced, without succumbing to Mr. A's inducement or collusion."

Superintendent Paek also said, "It is only natural for drug couriers to conceal or downplay their crimes," and emphasized, "The purpose of on-site verification is to identify the facts by catching instances of collusion and false testimony."

Previously, the joint investigation team announced in its interim investigation results the previous day that "Customs officials were found not to have assisted in drug smuggling, so a decision of no charges was made." Regarding suspicions that the leadership of the National Police Agency and the Korea Customs Service exerted external pressure on the drug smuggling case at Yeongdeungpo Police Station, the team also concluded, "No involvement by the Presidential Office or illegal acts by related parties were found," and issued a decision of no charges on all counts.

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office stated regarding Superintendent Paek's press release, "We are closely monitoring the current situation, as it may constitute a violation of police public relations regulations, and are considering appropriate measures."