SEOUL — Im Eun-jung, the Chief of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, issued a stinging rebuke on Thursday against the police officer who first raised allegations of customs involvement in a high-profile drug smuggling case. Im characterized the initial investigation as a "pre-determined" pursuit that mirrored the very "special investigation" tactics of the prosecution that have long been targets of public criticism.
The remarks came on February 26, shortly after the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office’s Joint Investigation Team on Customs Drug Smuggling, led by Chae Su-yang, announced that it found no evidence to support claims that customs officials conspired with international drug traffickers.
Echoes of Past Legal Scandals
In a detailed post on her personal Facebook account, Chief Prosecutor Im—a figure known for her outspoken stance on internal reform—drew a direct parallel between the customs probe led by Senior Inspector Baek Hae-ryong and one of the most controversial cases in South Korean legal history: the political fund violation case of former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook.
"While reviewing the records of the customs drug smuggling allegations over the past few months, I thought a lot about the case of former Prime Minister Han," Im wrote. She specifically pointed to the conduct of Prosecutor Um Hee-jun during his time at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.
Im alleged that Um had repeatedly summoned inmates—including those convicted of insurance fraud and drug offenses—to "practice" testimonies aimed at impeaching the late Han Man-ho’s statement that he had never given political funds to the Prime Minister.
"I saw firsthand how statements were refined and how case records were manipulated to fit a narrative," Im stated, reflecting on her time at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office during the tenure of then-Prosecutor General (now President) Yoon Suk Yeol. "I felt despair that the prosecution could sink to such a level. You shouldn't investigate like that."
The "Pre-determined" Conclusion
Shifting her focus to the current controversy, Im argued that the Yeongdeungpo Police Station, under Baek’s lead, utilized the same flawed methodology. She accused the police of cherry-picking inconsistent statements from drug smugglers and "polishing" them to fit a specific criminal theory.
"Capturing one of the wavering statements of drug smugglers, refining and dabbing those statements until they matched the charges, and failing to include unfavorable evidence in the official records—this is no different from the 'special investigation' methods of the prosecution that have been so heavily condemned," Im remarked.
Systemic Failure vs. Personal Malfeasance
While the Joint Investigation Team acknowledged that the entry of drug smugglers disguised as travelers pointed to significant "institutional loopholes" and "lax airport entry procedures," Chief Prosecutor Im clarified that these failures did not equate to criminal conspiracy by customs staff.
"The failure of customs to filter out these traffickers is a systemic issue that deserves criticism," Im explained. "However, it was not a result of individual deviations or crimes by customs officials. Ultimately, this case became a situation where police engaged in a ' 답정너' (Answer is already set) investigation and media play to frame it as personal corruption."
Political and Legal Fallout
The conflict marks a rare instance of a high-ranking prosecutor publicly criticizing a police whistleblower for using "prosecution-style" tactics. Senior Inspector Baek Hae-ryong had previously claimed that high-ranking police officials and external forces had pressured him to downplay the involvement of the Incheon International Airport Customs office.
With the prosecution's Joint Investigation Team now officially clearing the customs officials of the smuggling conspiracy charges, the focus is expected to shift toward the internal friction between the police and the prosecution, as well as the political implications of Im's critique of the President's former colleagues.
As of late Thursday, Senior Inspector Baek had not issued a formal response to Chief Prosecutor Im’s statements.
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