Baek Haeryong Requests Separate Investigation Team Ahead of End of Joint Task Force Dispatch

On the day before the end of the joint investigation team's dispatch regarding the "allegations of external pressure on customs drug investigations" at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, Detective Baek Haeryong called for the establishment of an investigation team independent from the prosecution.

Detective Baek Haeryong is standing in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On January 13, Detective Baek stated, "I have notified the prosecution that I do not wish to extend the dispatch period, and have requested the National Police Agency and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to provide a separate physical space for the investigation."

He added, "Last year, based on more than 4,000 pages of investigation records, we applied for a search and seizure warrant from the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, but it was denied. As of January 12, over 5,000 pages of investigation records have been produced. If the dispatch ends as it is, there is a risk that the case records could be discarded. Therefore, we must be able to conduct the investigation as an independent team, free from the prosecution's oversight and control."

He also emphasized the need for public disclosure of the investigation. Regarding the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office's announcement on December 9 of last year, which cleared customs officials and others of charges in its interim investigation results, he said, "Releasing only selected information or manipulating the facts to mislead the public is an act of deceiving the people and constitutes a criminal act that obstructs the criminal justice process. All investigation materials should be made public, even for cases that have been concluded with a non-indictment."

Meanwhile, Detective Baek joined the joint investigation team on October 17 last year, with his dispatch ending the following day. He has shown differences of opinion during the investigation process, such as applying for search and seizure warrants for six locations including the customs office in protest against the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office's interim investigation results, which cleared customs officials and others of charges, but the prosecution refused to request the warrants.