Seoul: Prime Minister Han Seong-sook has directed the National Police Agency to conduct a thorough review of the handling of all missing person cases. This directive includes taking strict actions if any mishandling is discovered, following the revelation that a police officer concluded cases without verifying the safety of the missing individuals.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Han emphasized the need for the police agency to identify existing loopholes and revamp the procedures for managing such cases. This includes separating investigative responsibilities from case closure authority to ensure fairness in investigations and restore public confidence.

The directive was issued in light of a recent incident on Jeju Island, where a police officer closed a missing person case without ensuring the safety of Jang Mi-ran, a 37-year-old woman whose body was found earlier on Monday, over three months after her family reported her missing. The officer in question, who has since been arrested, was also found to have prematurely closed another missing person case, with the individual's body subsequently discovered.