South Korean police face scrutiny over Jeju missing person case

Following the discovery of a deceased man in Jeju who had been reported missing, investigations have revealed discrepancies in how the police handled the case. While authorities initially claimed a junior officer had arbitrarily closed the missing person report without oversight, system records indicate that a superior officer provided final approval for the case closure.

In response to the incident, the Korean National Police Agency announced several emergency measures. These include prohibiting the closure of missing person cases via telephone alone, requiring direct safety verification through cooperation with fire departments or local governments if a person refuses contact, and implementing mandatory managerial approval for case closures. The agency also plans to conduct a full audit of approximately 310,000 missing person cases closed over the last three years.

However, critics argue that these procedural changes may fail without addressing systemic issues. Concerns have been raised regarding a significant shortage of specialized missing persons investigators. National dedicated personnel numbers have reportedly decreased from 848 in 2021 to 763, leading to fears that increased verification requirements may cause operational overload and lead to further improper case closures unless staffing and structural reforms are prioritized.