Im Eun-jeong, the new chief prosecutor of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, who had a confrontational stance with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, reported for duty for the first time on the 4th. When asked by reporters about the skepticism surrounding the 'joint investigation team linked to drug smuggling at Incheon Customs' established at the Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, Chief Prosecutor Im said, 'I, too, am someone who couldn't trust the prosecution and went to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO).' She added, 'The prosecution must bear the consequences for its past lenient investigations and lies, and reforms are needed.'
On that day, more than 3,000 viewers tuned in to the live broadcast of Chief Prosecutor Im's commute on a broadcasting company's YouTube live stream. In comparison, the number of viewers for the live stream of Jeong Jin-woo, the chief prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, was about 100. This reflects the intense interest inside and outside the prosecution towards Chief Prosecutor Im.
Chief Prosecutor Im appeared in front of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office building at around 8:55 a.m. There, when reporters asked her opinion on the assessment that this personnel change was related to the 'drug smuggling suspicion at Incheon Customs,' Chief Prosecutor Im responded, 'Those like Police Inspector Baek Hae-ryong, who raised concerns about investigative pressure, are internal whistleblowers just like me.' She continued, 'As an internal whistleblower, I understand the struggles and anxieties, so I want to pay attention to them as much as possible.'
Earlier last month, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office established a 'joint investigation team linked to drug smuggling at customs' consisting of about 20 members from the prosecution, police, National Tax Service, and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office. This case arose from the Yeongdeungpo Police Station's investigation, which secured statements that customs officials were involved in the smuggling of about 74 kg of methamphetamine by suspects of Malaysian nationality in January 2023, but it was alleged that high-ranking officials from the presidential office, police, and customs agency exerted pressure to conceal the investigation.
Chief Prosecutor Im stated, 'I am grateful and honored to take on such a heavy responsibility.' She added, 'Honestly, I wished for a position that would direct policy like the Head of the Planning and Coordination Division at the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, but I feel grateful to be here, knowing this is a significant role.'
When asked about the view that this personnel change is politically motivated, Chief Prosecutor Im remarked, 'The perception can change depending on where those looking at me stand; it's something I've become accustomed to over the past several years as a whistleblower.' She went on to say, 'The truth will be shown through my actions in the future.'
Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor Im was promoted directly to chief prosecutor without passing through the roles of director general and vice administrator. There are remarks that this is an unprecedented personnel decision within the prosecution.