Seoul: Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has pledged to enforce zero tolerance for any mishandling of missing person cases, following revelations of a police officer's negligence in closing cases without verifying the safety of the individuals involved. Han emphasized that the protection of people's lives and safety is paramount, and she promised to reform the missing person investigation system to ensure fair and thorough investigations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Han made these remarks on X, formerly known as Twitter, committing to a comprehensive review of investigative practices and the implementation of strict punitive measures against any unlawful actions by investigative agencies. She asserted that the government would dedicate all necessary resources to ensure that missing person investigations are conducted with the utmost integrity.

Earlier, Han instructed the National Police Agency (NPA) to scrutinize the handling of all missing person cases nationwide. She also proposed changes to the police's procedural approach, suggesting a separation between the authority to investigate cases and the authority to close them. This directive came in response to the arrest of a police officer on Jeju Island, who prematurely closed a missing person case without confirming the safety of Jang Mi-ran, whose body was discovered after more than three months.

The officer in question had also prematurely closed another case, leading to the discovery of the deceased individual involved. Prime Minister Han expressed her deep responsibility over the situation and conveyed her condolences for Jang Mi-ran.

President Lee Jae Myung has echoed the call for a thorough review of the police investigation system. Through presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the president expressed his condolences and instructed officials to investigate the closure of the cases and the command system that allowed it. He urged the police to propose reform measures internally.

In response, the NPA has initiated an audit to assess the handling of the missing person case on Jeju Island. This audit aims to evaluate the command and supervision processes to determine if proper procedures were followed by the officer in charge and if adequate oversight was provided by their superiors.