Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has pledged "zero tolerance" for the mishandling of missing person cases, vowing stern punishment for any wrongdoing and promising a comprehensive overhaul of the investigation system. The directive comes after revelations that a police officer closed cases without confirming the safety of the individuals involved.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Han emphasized that the lives and safety of people are paramount. She stated that the government would thoroughly investigate any unfair or unlawful acts by investigative agencies and issue severe penalties irrespective of rank. "The government will pour in every possible effort to make sure missing person investigations are conducted strictly and fairly," she added.
Earlier on Monday, Han had instructed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough review of all missing person cases across the country. The move aims to identify and close any loopholes in the system to ensure fair investigations, potentially by separating the authority to investigate from the authority to close cases.
The catalyst for the prime minister's strong reaction appears to be the case of Jang Mi-ran, 37, whose body was discovered more than three months after her family initially reported her missing. The officer implicated in this case was also found to have prematurely closed another missing person case, leading to the discovery of that individual's body as well. Prime Minister Han expressed her "indefinite responsibility" over the situation and offered her condolences, praying for the soul of the late Jang Mi-ran.
