Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has directed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough investigation into the handling of all missing person cases. This directive comes in response to revelations that a police officer prematurely closed cases without confirming the safety of the individuals involved.
One such case involved Jang Mi-ran, 37, whose body was found earlier on Monday, more than three months after she was initially reported missing by her family. Reports indicate that the officer, who has since been arrested, also closed another missing person case without proper verification, leading to the discovery of that individual's body as well.
In addition to reviewing past cases, Prime Minister Han has instructed the police agency to identify any existing loopholes in their procedures and to overhaul the system for handling missing person cases. This includes potentially separating the authority to investigate from the authority to close cases, aiming to restore public trust and ensure fairness in investigations.
