Non-contact case closures to be reviewed first
Police have launched a nationwide review of roughly 15,100 missing-persons cases following a scandal in Jeju in which an officer is suspected of falsely closing a missing-persons investigation. Authorities are prioritizing cases closed without in-person confirmation while also pursuing systemic reforms, including stronger supervisory approval requirements and expanded dedicated staffing.
Hong Seok-gi, head of the Korean National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, bowed in apology at a regular press briefing Monday, saying he was "deeply remorseful and regretful" that supervisory oversight — including his own — had failed to function properly alongside the misconduct of individual officers.
Hong said investigators who abandoned or abused their authority, as well as supervisors who failed to provide proper oversight, would be "strictly held accountable." He added that he felt "a heavy sense of responsibility" as police prepare to operate with greater independence. He also pledged to swiftly pursue internal measures to strengthen investigative capacity and improve organizational culture.
However, Hong asked the public to "also remember the majority of frontline investigators who work diligently under difficult conditions," separate from the wrongdoing of a few officers and their superiors. He said he would also develop measures to boost morale among investigators who may feel demoralized.
The nationwide review stems directly from the Jeju case. Hong said he ordered a full review on Monday and that, as of Friday, approximately 15,100 cases were under examination. "No cases with serious problems have been reported so far," he said.
The review covers both cases closed with and without in-person confirmation. Hong said the system requires checking each case individually to determine how it was closed, and that cases closed without in-person contact are being examined first.
The cases handled by the junior officer suspected of falsely closing the Jeju missing-persons case are also being reviewed separately. Jeju Provincial Police Agency deployed about 20 officers to conduct a full review of the 289 cases the officer handled, with results expected to be announced Tuesday. Hong said he had "not yet received a report" of any additional instances of false closures.
![Jeju Western Police Station, pictured on Tuesday. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/31/rcv.YNA.20260825.PYH2026082509570005600_P1.jpg)
On the cause of death of Jang Mi-ran, Hong said authorities understand that decomposition has made it difficult to determine the cause so far. "We are continuing the investigation with all possibilities open," he said. No additional suspects beyond the junior officer have been charged, and investigators are also working to verify the motive the officer provided.
Police also plan to overhaul the procedures for closing missing-persons cases. The missing-persons profiling system will be updated to include a supervisory approval function, and the requirement for a detective division chief's sign-off and the principle of in-person closure will be reinforced. Hong said that when an officer cannot conduct a direct confirmation, a nearby patrol officer should do so, and that if the person refuses to meet with police, a trusted party — such as a fire department official or a community welfare center worker — should verify the person's safety before the case is closed.
The initial risk assessment process for missing-persons reports will also be upgraded. Hong said the risk-assessment methodology needs to be improved so that cases requiring investigation can move directly into the investigative phase.
Staffing increases and a stronger legal framework are also being pursued. Hong noted that most police stations' missing-persons units operate with a single officer and said that, in the long term, having multiple officers is the right approach. He also acknowledged that current law does not allow police to apply coercive measures to missing adults without a mental disorder or dementia. Police plan to convey their views on pending legislation related to adult missing persons currently before the National Assembly.
An internal affairs investigation is underway into those responsible for supervisory oversight in the Jeju missing-persons case. Hong said authorities will assess whether the handling of the matter warrants disciplinary action or criminal charges after reviewing the appropriateness of how the case was managed.
jookapooka@heraldcorp.com
