Opposition lawmaker Bae Jun-young slams Customs Service over alleged lax probe into drug concealment

[Financial News] People Power Party lawmaker Bae Jun-young said on the 22nd that the Korea Customs Service had engaged in “covering for its own” over allegations that a customs employee concealed an LSD-related letter, and sharply criticized Customs Commissioner Lee Jong-wook. Lee replied, “I will thoroughly investigate the entire inspection process and promptly take corrective measures.”
At a general audit by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea's Finance, Economy and Planning Committee that day, Rep. Bae said the Korea Customs Service had tried to cover up the case in connection with allegations that a customs employee concealed an LSD-related letter.
According to CCTV footage and documents released by Rep. Bae, in September, a customs employee identified as A visually inspected only a letter containing a postal item suspected of containing 25 LSD tablets, then marked it “No issues.” Another employee, B, who had selected the letter for inspection, tried to recheck it, but it had disappeared, Bae said. CCTV footage reportedly captured A moving the letter to another mailbox and then pretending to search for it with other employees.
The case was also raised during the Korea Customs Service's parliamentary audit on the 15th. Lee said at the time, “It was not lost,” “We apprehended the recipient and closed the case,” and “It was not intentionally lost or removed.” Rep. Bae pointed out that all of Lee's remarks amounted to perjury.
Rep. Bae also raised concerns about how the case was handled afterward. He said a manager, despite knowing about the incident, called for the employees to reconcile and keep quiet, while the Korea Customs Service reported its drug seizures but omitted the inspection failure and the circumstances of the incident. He also noted that the Customs Service headquarters' inspection unit did not learn of the case until about a month after the incident, through a complaint submitted via the e-People petition portal.
Rep. Bae called for the case to be referred to police for investigation, for the Finance, Economy and Planning Committee to request an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection, and for Commissioner Lee to resign immediately.
Regarding the inspection at the time, Lee said, “We should have inspected more closely.” On the perjury allegations, he said, “I am sorry for the parts where I spoke inappropriately without checking carefully,” and explained, “I did not say that deliberately.”
He added, “I take it very seriously, given that (LSD) could have been brought into the country,” and said, “I will thoroughly investigate the entire inspection process and promptly take corrective measures.”
[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter