Prime Minister Han calls for police reform and cultural overhaul

Prime Minister Han Seong-suk has called for a fundamental overhaul of the police organizational culture following a controversial case involving the false closure of a missing persons investigation. Han criticized the current investigative procedures, describing the handling of the case as “too shocking” and difficult for citizens to accept.

Addressing the issue at the Government Complex Seoul, Han emphasized that the police must improve their systemic processes, including the separation of personnel responsible for case handling and closure. To ensure transparency, Han expressed support for establishing a police reform body located outside the existing police organization, stating that internal reform alone may not be sufficient to produce results that are “convincing to anyone.”

The push for reform follows instructions from President Lee Jae-myung to devise a framework for a police reform body. Han noted that the leadership is being urged to take more active roles in resolving these systemic issues and that a new investigative guide may be necessary to manage the high volume of reports.