Baek Hae-ryong, a senior inspector who raised allegations of external pressure on customs drug investigations, continued to step up criticism of prosecutors over the weekend.
Baek, seconded to the joint investigation team at the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, posted on his social media on the 14th, saying it was "the original reply from a Korea Customs Service employee who saw the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office's results announcement." The post said there had been no staff cuts or organizational changes at the Korea Customs Service even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that there had been no shortage of drug enforcement equipment.
This was intended to criticize the joint investigation team's interim briefing on the 12th, which said there had been a lack of legal grounds and equipment to search the bodies and belongings of those entering the country at the time of the incident.
The day before, Baek also shared a press release that the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office released on the 12th and said, "I will act as the Korea Customs Service Spokesperson. I will also defend the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency by saying it had no choice." On the same day, Baek argued that the "druggate case should be investigated publicly," saying the public's right to know should come before the ban on disclosing suspects' identities.
On the 10th, when Baek made public a draft of the on-site verification report, the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office warned that it was "closely watching the current situation, which may violate the police publicity rules, and reviewing appropriate measures."
Accordingly, the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office has asked the police to take appropriate measures regarding Baek's violation of publicity rules and infringement of personal information.