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Since the 12th of last month, when President Lee Jae-myung instructed Baek Hae-ryong, a superintendent who had drawn concerns about outside influence in a drug case, to join the investigation team, Lim Eun-jeong, head of the Dongbu District Prosecutors’ Office, who had been overseeing the current probe, and Superintendent Baek have openly disagreed. Superintendent Baek told Prosecutor Lim, “There is no desire to investigate,” and concerning the joint prosecution-police investigation team, he stated, “It cannot be trusted.” In reply, Prosecutor Lim denied Baek’s assertions, stating, “The members of the joint investigation team are not only commendable but also honorable.” Rather than working together on the investigation, they are disputing control, causing the investigation to be neglected.

Although President Lee’s abrupt directive to send Superintendent Baek to the investigation team is also difficult to comprehend, Baek’s following statements and behavior have also been unreasonable. On the 16th, when he reported for duty at the Dongbu District Prosecutors’ Office, Superintendent Baek once more informed reporters, “The joint investigation team is an illegal group. My conviction as a public servant has been shaken.” Superintendent Baek has maintained that the prosecution is involved in external pressure during the investigation, refused to acknowledge the joint investigation team, and called for the establishment of a new investigation team. In a YouTube video, he mentioned Prosecutor Lim, stating, “There is no intention to investigate” and “The prosecution is hindering the investigation.” Numerous comments criticizing Lim Eun-jeong appeared on the related video, such as “Lim Eun-jeong’s reform rhetoric is finally showing its true colors” and “Pretending to be virtuous, Lim Eun-jeong is ultimately just a prosecutor.”

The Lee Jae-myung administration established a joint investigation team right after taking office in June, and two months later appointed Lim Eun-jeong as chief prosecutor from her position as deputy chief prosecutor, entrusting her with overseeing the external pressure investigation. When Superintendent Baek publicly objected, stating, “Self-investigation by the prosecution is not acceptable,” the president directly ordered his assignment to the investigation team. By placing Baek, who had been suspected of external pressure during the previous President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration, together with Prosecutor Lim, a prominent advocate for prosecution reform, they likely anticipated a “dream team” that would gain praise from enthusiastic young female supporters of Lee Jae-myung, known as “Gaeddal,” or “daughters of reform.” However, the two immediately clashed in public, leading even Democratic Party supporters to divide into factions backing Lim Eun-jeong and Baek Hae-ryong.

During a Cabinet meeting on the 15th, President Lee stated, “Public officials should communicate with the people by showing results and accepting responsibility. Why do those in positions of power have so much to say?” Even the following day, after the president had directly ordered Superintendent Baek’s deployment to the investigation team despite legal controversy, the tension between the prosecution and police, which was supported by “enthusiastic young female supporters of Lee Jae-myung, known as ‘Gaeddal’ or ‘daughters of reform,’ continued. This seems to indicate what lies ahead for the prosecution and police following the planned dissolution of the prosecution service, an initiative being pushed by the administration.