[Exclusive] 7 Out of 28 Witnesses Absent at 'Customs Drug Investigation External Pressure Allegation Hearing'

Former Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun "Have Personal Schedule"
Former Representative Lee Jong-ho Due to Health Reasons
Possible Punishment Without Justifiable Cause

Ahead of the “Hearing on Allegations of External Pressure in Drug Investigations,” it has been confirmed that seven witnesses, including former National Police Agency Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun and former Black Pearl Investment CEO Lee Jong-ho, have submitted letters of absence.

Chief Inspector Baek Haeryong (left) and Police Commissioner Jo Byeongno. [Photo by National Assembly Broadcasting System]

According to the office of Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, on the 19th, seven out of 28 witnesses submitted letters explaining their absence. Former Commissioner Yoon notified that he had no specific command or supervision over individual cases and is currently retired with personal commitments. Former CEO Lee stated that he would not attend due to investigations by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, mental stress, and hypertensive heart disease. However, Lee did not submit a medical certificate.

The other three cited health issues, and two claimed they were unrelated to the external pressure allegations. Former Presidential Security Service staff member Song Ho-jong cited mental incapacity, police officer Jin Man-seon from Yeongdeungpo Police Station cited mental shock due to suspension, and Chief of Staff Choi Dong-sik of Suwon Nambu Police Station claimed exhaustion and dehydration risks. Prosecutor Choi Se-yoon of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office Criminal Division 3 stated concerns about undermining the quasi-judicial function of the prosecution and undue influence on ongoing investigations, and said she was unrelated to the case as the warrant officer. The interpreter for the Malaysian drug offender investigation team said they were unaware of the external pressure allegations and explained plans to visit China. According to the Act on Testimony and Appraisal at the National Assembly, witnesses who fail to appear at hearings without justifiable reasons may face imprisonment of up to three years or fines ranging from 10 million to 30 million won.

The hearing on the allegations of external pressure in drug investigations is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 20th. The Public Administration and Security Committee held a plenary meeting on the 8th and approved the plan to conduct the hearing and the summons of witnesses and reference persons. Twenty-eight individuals were selected as witnesses, including Superintendent Baek Hae-ryong (former head of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station), Senior Superintendent Jo Byeong-no (former head of the Community Safety Department at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency), Kim Chan-soo (former head of Yeongdeungpo Police Station and current administrative officer at the Presidential Secretariat), Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho, former Commissioner Yoon, and former CEO Lee. The ruling party opposed the hearing, calling it a unilateral push, but opposition party members approved it by a show of hands. Jo Eun-hee, the floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized it as “a deeply regrettable unilateral convening by the major opposition party.” In response, Yoon Geon-young, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, countered, “The National Assembly aims to uncover the truth about the allegations of external pressure in drug investigations through this hearing. We just need to focus on that.”

The current allegations of external pressure arose from a case last January when the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul detected customs officers assisting Malaysian drug syndicate members in smuggling methamphetamine into the country through Incheon Airport. Superintendent Baek, who led the investigation team at the time, revealed that before a media briefing on the case, he received external pressure from Senior Superintendent Jo, then head of the Community Safety Department at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, to remove the Customs Service from the press release. Senior Superintendent Jo denies any external pressure.

Last month, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency issued a warning to Superintendent Baek for violating public relations regulations and reassigned him to the Hwagog Police Substation in a demotion. In response, Superintendent Baek filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials against Senior Superintendent Jo for abuse of authority and obstruction of rights, and also challenged the warning.

In February, the National Police Agency requested the Ministry of Personnel Management to convene the Central Disciplinary Committee, but no disciplinary action was taken against Senior Superintendent Jo. Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho stated at the National Assembly confirmation hearing on the 29th of last month that he would consider personnel measures against Senior Superintendent Jo, and on the 14th, Senior Superintendent Jo was reassigned as head of the Community Safety Department at the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.