Police inspector files complaint against prosecutor over 'defamatory' customs drug probe findings

"An investigator violated investigative principles, fell into confirmation bias, relied on false statements from drug smugglers and pursued an unreasonable investigation. This is a case that ultimately caused social confusion through reckless allegations."

That was the conclusion of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office's joint investigation team, which spent eight months examining allegations raised by Police Inspector Baek Hae-ryong that customs officials were involved in drug smuggling. In February, the team found the allegations had no substance. Six months later, Baek has launched a legal counteroffensive, saying parts of the investigation's findings amounted to an attack on his character.

Baek's side filed a complaint Friday morning with the Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters against Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office chief Im Eun-jeong on charges of abuse of authority and defamation through false statements. Baek also said the ongoing internal audit targeting him was inappropriate.

In a statement released Friday, Baek said he had been subjected to personal defamation. He said the Eastern District Prosecutors Office, in announcing that the so-called drug gate had no substance, portrayed him as having been deceived by false statements from drug smugglers. He added that the office also announced he had omitted unfavorable materials and prepared investigative documents that differed from the facts, and that Chief Prosecutor Im had posted similar content on her personal social media account.

"This constitutes defamation because it uses false statements to portray Inspector Baek as someone who predetermined the conclusion of an investigation and fabricated investigative documents to commit a crime," his statement added.

Baek also alleged that Im was guilty of obstruction of rights through abuse of authority. He said the president had ordered him seconded to the joint investigation team to conduct a joint probe, but that after the secondment took effect, his team was not placed within the joint team's organizational structure, preventing him from carrying out both compulsory investigative measures — including search and seizure — and voluntary investigative activities.

Baek's side said he had been given the appearance of being seconded to uncover the truth behind the drug scandal, while in practice being excluded from the joint team's investigative framework and having his investigative scope restricted. They said Im had abused her command authority, obstructing Baek's exercise of his investigation-related rights and powers.

In February, the Eastern District Prosecutors Office announced its finding that the customs drug allegations had no substance and notified the Korean National Police Agency of the charges against Baek, including potential disciplinary action. In response, Baek said the internal audit targeting him was also inappropriate.

He said Im had prevented him from conducting a proper investigation by, among other things, failing to assign him an official position within the organizational structure. He added that protective measures and prohibitions on disadvantageous treatment under the Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act were currently in progress on his behalf, and that whether it was appropriate to continue disciplinary and audit proceedings against him should be reviewed.

Baek's side also filed a separate defamation complaint Friday against a YouTuber identified only by the surname Lee, on charges of defamation through false statements. Baek said the YouTuber had broadcast fabricated accounts of meetings and verification sessions with government officials who did not exist, presenting them as specific facts — going beyond denying the substance of the drug scandal to undermining his credibility as an investigator.