The details of external pressure on customs drug investigations seen through an interview with Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong (Only in the genre of Yeouido)

An unprecedented event, yet it was buried.

In 2023, one of the most shocking drug smuggling incidents in South Korean history occurred. Baek Hae-ryong, the head of the Hwajeong District Police Station in Gangseo, who was directly involved in the investigation, described this case as 'a matter of national security collapsing.' In fact, hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine were smuggled in through Incheon Airport, revealing abnormal cooperation from customs officials during the process. Even more astonishing is that the investigative team actively pursuing this case was halted due to external pressure, and a proper press briefing could not even be conducted. Jeong Baek Hae-ryong went on interviews to inform the public about the truth of this incident through the media. He repeatedly emphasizes, 'This is not just a simple drug case. Understanding why and who obstructed this investigation is the essence of this case.' This essay aims to shed light on the realities of power-related external pressure based on the testimony of Baek Hae-ryong.

Drugs Hidden in Cutting Boards, Why Did Customs Let Them Through

A wooden cutting board worth 4,000 won imported from Malaysia looked ordinary, but hidden inside was high-purity methamphetamine. This cutting board was even glued, making it easy to visually confirm something was off. It wasn't just the cutting board. There were cases where Malaysian members attached drugs to their bodies and entered the country directly, with more than 12 successful entries using this method between January and February 2023. Due to airport security systems, X-ray scans are conducted over 90% of the time, and drug detection dogs are also present. Nonetheless, the continued success of this method suggests that someone inside 'opened the door.' In particular, evidence of manipulation in the customs internal computer system, such as deleting inspections of suspects or preventing the marking of suspicious items, was captured by the investigation team led by Baek Hae-ryong. This strongly suggests the possibility of organized concealment, rather than a mere coincidence.

Investigation Team Baekhaeryong's Tracking and Achievements

The drug investigation team of the Yeongdeungpo Police Station uncovered the true nature of the case and achieved remarkable results. They secured notes used by key figures of a Malaysian drug organization and obtained documents detailing the list of accomplices and their movements. The Commissioner of the National Police Agency highly praised this effort and prepared an official briefing. The investigation team applied for over 40 warrants, most of which were granted, and arrested many members of the organization, seizing a large quantity of actual drugs. The prosecution also actively cooperated in the beginning, using expressions like "I respect you" and "brother" while closely collaborating with the investigation team. However, at the moment they were about to hold the briefing, the situation took a sudden turn. Phone calls began to come in asking, "Do we really need to include customs?" and a vague yet clear message was conveyed to the investigation team stating, "It is not looked upon favorably from Yongsan."

The Reality of External Pressure: Who Stopped It and Why

The reality of external pressure was not simple. Individuals who did not go through the investigative command line contacted Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong directly to demand the suspension of the investigation. Jo Byung-ro, the head of the Livelihood Safety Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, had no command relationship whatsoever and was in a department unrelated to the investigation, yet he called directly as if he were a 'national operator' to request the suspension of the investigation. Kim Chan-soo, the head of the Yeongdeungpo Police Station, was cooperative at first but withdrew from the investigation while mentioning the 'atmosphere in Yongsan,' and shortly thereafter was promoted to the presidential office. This series of events creates a clear picture. Someone was systematically obstructing the investigation, and this was not merely an intervention at the level of the prosecution or police leadership. Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong emphasizes this point. 'The Commissioner of the National Police Agency and the Prosecutor General cannot stop the investigation. The only entity that can control this systematically is the presidential office.'

Pyeongtaek Port and the Shadow of Power

Why did the presidential office try to cover up this incident? Deputy Chief Baek Hae-ryong found a clue in the past allegations of favoritism at the Pyeongtaek Port Customs. There were several investigations into customs evasion and provision of conveniences at a bonded warehouse operated by Ms. Jang Jin-ho, the aunt of First Lady Kim Geon-hee, and there are suspicions that then-prosecutor Yoon Seok-yeol was involved in this process. The problem is that the customs employees at that time have since been transferred to Incheon Airport, and there are indications that they provided a smuggling route for drugs. On February 5, 2023, a rookie customs official triggered an alarm by marking 'suspicious items' as per regulations, which led to the discovery of the crime. After that, the 'alarm function' itself was either turned off or deleted by someone. 'They became bolder. They were confident that someone would protect them,' explained Deputy Chief Baek.

The Beginning of the Prosecutor's Internal Strife and Power Conflict

Initially, the Southern District Prosecutor's Office's Special Investigations Unit, which had been cooperating with the investigation, was dismantled immediately after the briefing. Seven prosecutors were reassigned, and there were cases where individuals faced disciplinary actions simply for cooperating with the investigation team led by Baek Hae-ryong. Following this, key figures identified by Baek include Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok, Central District Prosecutor Song Kyung-ho, and Incheon District Prosecutor Sim Woo-jung. At first, these individuals also genuinely pursued the drug investigation. However, as signs of the president's involvement emerged, they began to either remain silent or evade participation. Meanwhile, Minister Han Dong-hoon increasingly found himself in conflict with the presidential office. 'In April 2023, when Minister Han Dong-hoon stated, 'Our government will resume the war on drugs,' it was not directed at the opposition but was a warning to the president and first lady.'

Special Investigation, and Can the Truth be Revealed

Currently, the special investigation team for Kim Geon-hee is only dealing with the lobbying related to Cho Byeong-ro, while the investigation into drug-related external pressures is being treated as a secondary issue. The standing special investigation team, consisting of five members from the prosecution and 20 investigators, is widely regarded as insufficient. Given that key institutions such as the Customs Service, the prosecution, the National Intelligence Service, and the Presidential Office are all implicated in the allegations, there are concerns that it will be difficult to uncover the truth without an independently structured special investigation team. Inspector Baek Hae-ryong states, 'To reveal the truth, all case records investigated by the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office and the Central District Prosecutors' Office must be made public. By examining airport CCTV, customs system logs, communication records of accomplices, and internal emails of customs officials, the facts will come to light.'

Baekhaeryong's question: Why was the investigation stopped?

The essence of this case is not simply drug smuggling. It is that as a certain investigator approached the pinnacle of the drug investigation, all the systems of the state operated to 'stop him.' The prosecution turned its back after initially cooperating, the police leadership evaded responsibility, and those who assisted in the investigation were demoted. Ultimately, at the end of all these connections was the 'presidential office.' Thus, the question becomes clear. Why was this investigation obstructed? Deputy Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong presents two possibilities. First, it could be that someone close to the president or their family is involved, requiring protection. Second, there is a possibility that the president and his spouse, or their agents, were directly involved in the drug trade. In either case, the outcome would be a test of the rule of law in South Korea. If it is proven that power has weakened the state system to defend itself, this case will not simply be recorded as the 'biggest drug smuggling incident' but as an 'event that undermines constitutional order.'

Conclusion

Inspector Baek Ha-ryong put his career on the line and tried to disclose the truth through the media. 'I would be okay with being expelled. But the public needs to know this truth.' In these words lies the conscience of a citizen before being a public official. If the facts of the case are not revealed, another methamphetamine and another criminal could easily enter through the airport. What passed through the airport that day was not just drugs. What passed through the airport that day was the rule of law of the Republic of Korea.