South Korean police misconduct and reform efforts

Following allegations of falsified investigation records and the improper closure of missing persons cases in Jeju, South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-suk ordered a thorough investigation into the Korean National Police Agency. The probe was prompted by reports that an officer repeatedly closed missing persons cases without conducting searches, including one instance where a man was found dead 51 days after disappearing. In that case, the officer allegedly provided false information to the family, claiming the individual was safe and did not wish to be located.

In response to the misconduct, Prime Minister Han called for a fundamental overhaul of the police organizational culture and systemic reforms. These include separating personnel responsible for case processing from those responsible for case closure. To ensure transparency, Han expressed support for establishing an independent police reform body located outside the existing police organization, noting that internal reform alone might not produce results that are “convincing to anyone.” This push for reform follows instructions from President Lee Jae-myung to develop a framework for such a body.